Dawn of War: Destiny War
(Secrets can be dangerous. When anyone covers up a story with a lie, it later becomes a threat, a shock, or a surprise to those that hear it. For every story wrapped in blankets of folklore or myth, the truth behind it is always a tale that most will never accept as reality. Enjoy! )
Chapter 7: Section 7 – 1
The trip back to planet Saneesh takes long than expected; the journey nearly takes a toll on the imperial guard. The last battle gives every man, woman, ogryn, tech priest, skitarii and officer a moment to breathe peacefully. With the ork war boss dead and his ork horde leaderless, the future is once again secure for the Imperium of Man. There will always be ork hordes around the galaxy ready to cause a war. They are an endless tide of green skin muscle ready to be thrown at a planet. As many guardsmen drink, nurse, and relax away the worries of war and misery, Lucas sits calmly on deck one with his thoughts of the future. It was not a man, woman, ogryn, or skitarii who had slain the ork boss. It was the hand of an eldar warrior. The real question is how to report all of this to Commander Vance; the eldar fled once the guardsmen were done extracting their teams operating on the moon. The eldar left no trace of warp energy behind; they had what they need. The eldar spirit stone of farseer Elenwe is back with their clan. They even managed to recover the artifacts from an avatar of Khaine. Despite their loss of fighters, the eldar now present a threat to this section of the galaxy if left unchecked. There are many questions and reports to give to Commander Vance. The real problem is how to inform him of the events without being condemned as a heretic.
Max comes to deck one and joins Lucas; they take a moment to have a drink. No words of courage are spoken. No accusations of heresy need placing. No actions of preparation to consider. It is just two men having a drink and pleased at how far they have come. The rest of the journey home will take at least a year due to the FTL drive carrying the ship most of the way. With only a skeleton crew operating, they enjoy a decent moment of peace.
Lucas says, "Do you think things will change for us from here on out? We did break a lot of regulations of the imperial guard. You probably broke the most."
Max sighs and sips his drink; he looks out into the void of space as they pass through a meteor cluster.
He says, "Last I recall, you only needed my help. Commander Vance allowed me to join and redeem the renegade guardsmen. He also agreed to let me join the regiment. As for anything else, it is an unforeseen event. I am just glad the orks are dead and nothing else is trying to kill us. What happens to us now will be determined by your leader."
Lucas pours another drink and adds, "He may still reward us all something. We did go through hell just trying to slay the ork. Not to mention, we had no choice but to work with the eldar. If not a planet to rule over, then the ship should be ours. Lina has done so much to make it better before the warp drive became useless."
Max agrees. They continue sharing the bottle until a familiar person comes over and takes it. Before she consumes the beverage, they watch her disconnect the metal arm on her shoulder. She lets her robe hang loosely on her. With a few swallows and her head leaning back, Lina takes the remaining half of the bottle down her gullet with ease. Both Max and Lucas are stunned beyond belief; she finishes the liquid in less than a minute.
Lucas says, "You do realize that was an alcoholic liquid right? I thought you can only take in certain fluids to your body. I hope that will not cause you to have a problem."
Lina places the empty bottle down and pulls out another, "My body is still very much human in many areas. The only parts of me that are replaced are the ribs, spine, shin, feet, and shoulders blade; half of my brain is a machine too. Oh, and I have replaced most of my blood with synthetic liquid to keep me going for long hours throughout the day. Though I am the Blessed Techno Child, I still can feel things like love, happiness, and desire. There are some things a machine can't provide me."
Both men pull back from her slightly only to laugh at her silly behavior. She happily joins them and opens another bottle for the three. She tosses out their current drink and pours them a fresh one. She adds only a swallow to each glass.
Lina says, "I propose a toast to the three of us. Here and now."
Both men agree and they all raise a glass.
Lucas starts, "To the Emperor of Mankind! He has always given us his eternal blessing against the foul daemons, vile heretics, filthy xenos, and corruption in the galaxy. From the flames of war to the void of space, we stand together united under the banner of duty."
Lina adds, "To the Omnissiah of Humanity! He has provided us with the knowledge for the machine spirit to fight. Where there is a spark of life, there is knowledge to acquire. From the soil of Mars to the galaxy itself, we praise all that is at our hands to be utilize for the advancement of the imperium."
Max shrugs his shoulders as his friends laugh and finishes, "To our friends and family. We have loss so many people to war, plague, and corruption. We will continue to fight for them until the end. Be a sword at our neck or the sea of fire burning us alive, we stand against the forces of chaos and evil till the end of time."
They all raise a glass and cry, "Long life and eternal blessing!"
Once they swallow the drink, Max and Lucas hit the floor coughing hard. Lina peacefully sips her drink and laughs. Both men roll on the floor as though their throat is on fire and itching.
She says, "I should have told you that this is a much stronger alcoholic drink compared to the others you have. It is as sweet as it is strong. The side effect is a burning throating and you won't get sick no time soon in the future."
Lucas looks for water and drinks a mouthful twice. He adds, "Well, next time you can drink it yourself. I will stick to the booze."
Max rolls on the floor and agrees, "Yeah, I know you are a tech priest, but ugh. Do not ever serve that again. My damn throat doesn't need to feel like it is on fire."
As the three sit back and enjoy their company, they each tell a story of their greatest challenge. Max keeps his own tales to himself and only brings up his recent adventures with them. They barely still know little about each other; however, Lina and Lucas have become closer than what Max knows of them. The relaxation Lucas has when around her is greater than ever; the less focused Lina is on her tech shows her amazing character.
Lucas says, "Well, I am pretty much a colony kid. My family was killed by orks when I enlisted into the imperial guard. I was 'fortunate' to not be among them when it happened. Now, since I followed Commander Vance years ago during his rise, I see every ork as a threat to more than just humanity. I see them as an infectious disease that must be rid of once and for all. I will keep on going and battling them until I can do no more."
Lina smiles and says, "We have something in common, Lucas. My family too was killed by filthy xenos. Only the Necrons took them; no reports of their bodies were found so I assume the worse. It is for that reason why I study technology so much. Even my predecessors that trained me were impressed by what I knew and showed. Since that time, Commander Vance values my technical expertise over so many others that have served under him."
Max smiles at the two as they share stories. With his body feeling weak, he takes his leave to rest up. He looks back to see them both closer than ever. Even with the war and death, life and love finds a way aboard the War Harbinger. Max walks to a restroom before heading to the lower level. He enters and finds a place to shower; he turns on the water to wash away his thoughts of war, misery, and pain. He traces his thoughts back to the events he has endured. The first time he sees other imperial soldiers is still a shock to him; the reaction he gets from Lucas and others with his dangerous plans is hilarious. It has been one exciting life for him since ten years of peace are gone. Now, he recalls seeing her. She is so beautiful; the eldar leader shines as bright as the moon. Her beauty leaves him wonder.
He thought, "Kayleth does look beautiful. I wish she would smile more. Wait a minute, why am I thinking of her so much?"
On the Faded Light, the eldar are at peace. They have achieved their objective with a handful of their own no longer living. As the ship glides silently through space, the eldar rest peacefully. Many more spirits stones rest inside a hidden web way portal on the ship; the avatar of Khaine artifacts glow softly as they are closely watched and guarded. In his chamber, Veldoran keeps himself at peace and focuses on his warp power. He guides and shows his present warlock acolytes the ways of using a stronger eldritch power. The next time they battle, they will decimate and shock their enemies in larger numbers. In the next chamber, howling banshee captains keep their skills sharp as they strike and train together; the howl of the banshees is powerful. The louder they are, the deadlier their surprise will be to the enemy. At the end of the hall, she waits in her private chamber. She can finally rest her mind from war. Despite the wars that are still coming to her kin, she allows a peaceful moment for herself. As she powers down her warp ability, she stands at ease. She recalls her last encounter with Max. Something still didn't feel right. Something about Max did not feel right at all. The chamber was at a steady temperature until it went cold. They were not near any cold parts of space; there were no ways for the cold sensation to enter the chamber. The questions in her mind beg for an answer to each one. Kayleth wants to know; she requires an answer from only one person.
She thought, "I must go to the web way portal and find the spirit stone. She will be able to tell me more."
The sudden cold sensation she had when Max gave her back the farseer left her questioning him. It was something that didn't have an explanation; Kayleth still regrets her chance to kill him. Not wanting to accept what is reality, Kayleth goes to the sacred room of eldar spirit stones. She journeys down to the lower level of the Faded Light. Though the ship only has two and a half levels, it holds several web way portals for the eldar to bring about fast reinforcements. A pair of howling banshees stands at the end of the hall. Kayleth approaches and bows to them. They step aside and let her near the web way gate to the hidden spirit stones. She walks down a flight of steps. At the bottom, she discovers a bright doorway. She steps in; Kayleth sees a variety of star-like objects shine brightly. Every single eldar slain since the War Boss Bone Snappa lay here. Though many spirit stones are coming to share knowledge, Kayleth finds Elenwe glowing slightly. She pulls her from the others and shares her thoughts with her.
Kayleth says, "Why was Max so important to you? How was it possible for you to survive this long around him? What else does he hold for the future of craft world Alaitoc? I need to know what role will Max play in the future."
Elenwe replies, "The future of the damn remains unclear. An individual of your enemy will create a change. You will discover an ally and experience a wondrous power. The path will save our craft world from the Great Evil."
She repeats the questions and the farseer answers, "Max is something that can't be explained. He kept me safe from She Who Thirst. All will be revealed in time."
Chapter 7: Section 7 – 2
The arrival to the planet Saneesh is a tremendous relief. As procedures to wake the imperial guard are underway, many gossip about what is to happen next. The ork boss is dead and orks are reduced to infighting. Will the reward still be there to claim? No one didn't get the chance to bring the ork head to Commander Vance. Bone Snappa was destroyed completely by the eldar commander. As the ship becomes more active, Lucas, Lina, and Max take to the console to discuss how to present their report individually.
Lucas turns on the broadcast channel for all levels and says, "Attention guardsmen, we are only two hours out from landing on the imperial world Saneesh. Be sure all your weapons are still loaded and you are ready. We step on a world that will soon be joined with the realm of the Imperium of Man. There may be more trouble on the surface."
As the three able body leaders talk things over, the imperial guard and ogryn packs do what any group does best. They keep each other entertained with stories; many tell a story of bravado and display trophies collected from the battle field. Some are stories of the death defying to the insane; each man, woman, and ogryn boast on who is crazier. The skitarii legion and tech priests share knowledge; the guns are modified for guardsmen use and armor is improved. Many tech priests dare say that the armor upgrades out-match a legion of Space Marines. After an hour goes by, everyone starts making last minute adjustments before they get ready to land on the surface. Upon seeing the planet, everyone braces themselves for the glorious view of the new imperial home world. Once the ship arrives at the fortress, everyone is amazed at how far they have come in only a few years.
At the center, a giant castle with more than enough anti-air guns is standing. The castle glows with a bright yellow lime-stone and metal. A massive reinforced wall surrounds the metal castle as the perimeter extends outward. The fortress is nearly ten miles out in all directions; the area is made of five sections. The center section houses mostly military and personal guards to the command center. In the north, the air bases and land pad for the ships are present. To the south, east, and west, every section is heavily reinforced with troops and supplies. A few sets of anti-air guns are around the sections and aircraft carriers are station by the walls near the center. It truly is a wondrous sight to see. Lina pulls up the system and clarifies docking codes to land in the north. As the ship pulls in, the guardsmen look out to see a welcoming committee standing on the ground. The ship locks into the pad-locks. All the people aboard the War Harbinger start going to the lower levels. Many take shuttle transports to the ground as fast as they can to see the features of the fortress.
Lucas, Max, and Lina take a private shuttle to a special landing to meet with Commander Vance. The base leaves them wordless and amazed; they find Commander Vance standing by with his personal guard. The moment is here and now; the shuttle lands with ease. As they exit the shuttle, Lucas and Lina salute the commander minus Max. The storm troopers target Max due to his attire and demeanor. Commander Vance orders them to stand down; Lucas and Lina understand why Max still didn't show his respect to Vance. He is still a gun for hire; Vance has yet to declare Max an official officer of the imperium or even a soldier of the guardsmen.
Max nods his head to Vance. The commander laughs and greets him with a smile.
He says, "It is good to see a new face of the imperial guard here before us. I take it you were successful at killing the ork boss Bone Snappa?"
Before Lina and Lucas reply, Max answers, "No, we didn't kill him. The ork was completely destroyed by the eldar commander. She employed some kind of warp power that sent what was left of him into pieces. The only good news my friends and I can provide you with is the progress on the ice world and the disappearance of planet Ragnar. There is no further information from me that you need to know."
Lucas gnashes his teeth; Lina tightens her fists. Commander Vance just smiles at the news despite being told about the little yet surprising details.
He says, "I see. So, the eldar did assist you with some form of unholy power that allowed the ork to die. It is understandable yet regrettable; the ork threat may have died with him, but there are still orks on this world near the coast lines. Though they are without a leader, the numbers are growing until one emerges from among them. For now, we have them in check until we are ready to commit ourselves at finishing them off. Until then, all of you take a walk with me."
Vance leads the way for the others to follow him. Lucas, Max, Lina and the personal guard travel with the commander to the inner sanctum of the fortress.
Lucas whispers to Max, "That was not a bright idea telling him that the eldar were involved with the destruction of Bone Snappa. Now, we better hope for more than just a firing line."
Max replies, "Relax, Sergeant Major. He will reward us as he sees fit; you can keep your men and ship. I only desire peace. Nothing else matters to me."
They all look down and marvel at how well the inside is made. From the top to the bottom, each floor is amazing and design for not just commanders, but for the legions of shock troopers. As they enjoy the sights, Vance leads them to his own chamber. Along the way, Max notices the several storm trooper teams in the main hall standing by watching. Lina takes in the new improvements of the technology. Before they arrive at the main office, Vance halts the group.
He says, "I have another assignment for you to complete. At the costal territory, the orks have made themselves nearly endless, but we kept their numbers down. There should be no more than about thirty to fifty thousand orks left with several camps. You are to go there and eliminate the advance parties after a few days of resting. I want you to take this time and enjoy a few days of rest before you begin your mission. If there is nothing else to report, that is all."
Lucas acknowledges his command until Max says, "So, we are to continue another war against xeno filth? Why not just give me the coordinates now? My army can take care of your ork problem and have it out of the way. Then, we enjoy the peace you offer."
The storm troopers draw their swords at Lina who threats Max with harsh words.
She says, "You will watch your tongue when you address our commander; I may be no guardsman, but I do not tolerate disrespect."
Vance laughs and replies, "If you seek to eliminate the ork problem, then by all means do so. I will let you take the remaining conscripts with you as well; it will be good for them to follow your command. Sergeant Major Turner and Techno Child Lina can remain here. Do this task for me, and I will see you rewarded with the rank of your choice."
Max scoffs at the notation, "I am not doing this for the imperial guard. As for my reward, leave me to my peace once I burn out the ork problem."
Max is escorted to a nearby shuttle landing pad. He notifies his troops along the way. Once out of sight, Lina and Lucas ask Commander Vance about his choices and explain away Max's reply with some apologies.
Lucas says, "I apologize Commander Bright for my comrade's rude behavior. He can be rash at times; your reasons for letting him and his unit go are justified I take it?"
Lina adds, "To send him off is a serious matter, but I can't question your decision. I do want to know can you trust him despite his attitude. And I apologize for my rude attitude early."
Commander Vance smiles and answers, "I will allow him to do as he wishes until he is worthy of being an honorable guardsmen or a decorated officer. For now, do not trouble yourself with his ways. Retire to your quarters and rest up; he has the orks to handle. As for anything else, you can report to me later."
The storm troopers escort them off to meet with their teams. As Commander Vance steps into his private chamber, he sees a familiar person before him. Though of low rank, the heavily covered person gives Vance the information he desires.
The informer says, "I have heard from Rela about her success. Her plan has gone well at Ragnar. She will be here on Saneesh within a few hours. There is more troubling news that you must know of. It is about Noble One Max Johnson."
At the north-eastern zone, Lina and Lucas sit back among friends and allies. The tales of their war against the orks and dark eldar are note worthy for years to come; every single person alive will remember why they are here. It wasn't just dumb luck that they prevailed. No, they all will remember heroes like Lucas, Lina, and Max. Once they had enough pleasantries with friends and comrades, they excuse themselves from the rest; the others continue to enjoy the free time yet still remain alert. Once Lucas and Lina are alone, they embrace each other in private. They put all their worries, stress, and problems to the side as they wrap their arms around each other. Not a single person didn't know of their affair; in fact, they do take the necessary steps to prevent any form of discovery. The hours go by with no reports coming to either of them. It seems forever since the last time they had any time together. Once the afternoon comes, they share a private session together; they look to the sky with a smile on their face.
Lucas says, "You enjoy sneaking around with me more than you enjoy your time studying machines and researching."
Lina blushes, "Well, some things I will always enjoy more than what a machine can offer me."
The wars of War Boss Bone Snappa brought the two together. With every single encounter of xenos and savage orks, Lucas and Lina grew affectionate towards one another. They both yearn to never let one another go without saying special words to each other.
Before they share a kiss, the radio com alerts them. Commander Vance summons them to his war room. The message is urgent and concerns their ally Max Johnson. They hurry to his office as fast as they can. Once they arrive, a pair of storm troopers let them in. They see Vance standing at his war table with his head down; they alert him of their presence. He sighs heavily and walks over to them carrying something.
Vance says, "There is no easy way to say this to either of you, but it must be known."
He holds up a vox recording device covered in some dust. It appears old. Once he turns it on, the message on the vox recorder plays an old recording. It is dated two years ago during a time that many have forgotten. However, the inform is much older than they will believe.
The message plays: "My name is Max Johnson. And this is my story…"
Chapter 7: Section 7 – 3
The wheels of the chimeras turn in the dirt; a pack of hellhounds roll through the tall grass after driving off road. All lasguns are locked and loaded. Morale is steady and easy. A few words and whispers surround the new conscripts and recruits. They journey into unknown territory to face the savage orks. The orks are leaderless; the xenos must be cleansed from the planet Saneesh. The journey takes only two days before the sun comes back to provide humid conditions. Once the newcomers arrive at the camp, they pile out to see activity around them. Packs of highly trained storm troopers stand ready to hit the enemy. Officers get their troops in line and at the ready. Among the various groups, a few men and women whisper stories of who their commander is.
One man says, "I heard that this guy is the one who can makes all xenos run away when the battle goes wrong for them."
A second voice tells, "He once was at the side of an inquisitor and left to join us out of respect."
The third boasts, "The man leading us is supposedly not of our regiment or any other imperial force. No one knows his story."
Before any more words come forth, a broadcast announces: "This is Noble One Max Johnson. I see that a lot of you do not trust me so well. Many of you don't know me let alone know of my abilities; I won't lie to you and keep you in the dark. We are facing orks just beyond the ridge of this coast line. They are without a true leader so this makes them less organized. Commander Vance of the imperial guard has given me command to oversee the destruction of the orks. At any time, if you feel that this battle will be too much for you to handle, I urge you to fall back and retreat. If you don't have what it takes to face an ork, stay here at the camp where it is safe. I will allow any man and woman a full pardon for any sign of fear they show. The orks do not know fear; they will not show fear when fighting us. Those that can't handle fear are unfit to challenge any xeno we will face. The orks are the worse to fight against. So, before we head into battle, take the time to be sure of yourself. Fear will be upon many of us; I will lead the charge into the green horde and face my fear. If the orks taught me anything that I share with you, it is better to face that fear then let the beasts be unleashed on your family."
Max cuts the speech short. As he straps his harness on, he hears various shouts from those that serve with him before.
One woman shouts, "An ork hurt me by taking my eye! I will hurt each ork by taking all their eyes!"
A man fires his gun, "The orks slaughtered my family when I was a boy! I will not stop until I destroy all the orks in the galaxy!"
An ogryn leader roars, "Orks ar stupid and weak! I will kill em all fo my officer!"
A group points to Max, "He is the one that is here to fight the orks and secure this planet! We rather follow the man that fights with us on the front than sit in the back! We all follow Noble One Max Johnson!"
For every speech of courage and hurt, the guardsmen find the urge to be brave. For all talk of strength and pain, the morale goes up. For every sense of duty, the troops strap on weapons and grenades. For the sake of honor, the imperial guard of Max Johnson follow him to the mountain ridge to face a frightening foe. Max raises his hand to hold back his army. He walks over the ridge and sees an area infested with orks. The orks didn't have look out towers and none are patrolling the outer edges of the camp. The orks are aimless. It wouldn't take them long to sweep through the enemy. Max turns to his army once more and sees the faces of many. He sees fear, faith, bravery, shock, and eagerness.
He rallies his army, "This is where we don't hold them! This is where we fight them! And we shall bring them death! So remember why you fight them! You fight to annihilate them for the future of mankind! The orks die today! Follow me into paradise!"
Max calls up a few snipers; he orders them to fire at the beasts. With five orks dead, it didn't take much to get the orks ready to charge. Max brings his troops forward. The storm troopers stand ready as the orks come at them. Before the orks get half way up the slope of the sandy hill, a roaring sound is heard. Artillery strikes from the camp throw the ork parties around with ease as they bomb the area. Once the damage is done, Max orders the charge. The ogryn packs and storm troopers lead the charge with Max. Behind their backs, an army of imperial guard conscripts follow closely; Max charges ahead of others blasting the orks in his sight. The ogryn clobber any nob bold enough to fight them head on. Storm troopers use jet packs to fly in the air and gun down any orks from above. The jet pack teams are countered against ork storm boys. Max moves deeper into the ranks of orks. He shoots and stabs the orks with every encounter he finds. The artillery strike teams target the ork camps next after they move up. They send more orks flying into the air as they rain down shells on the mobs.
Once the guardsmen reach the ork camps, they set fire and burn down any hunts. A few guardsmen catch Max in their vision; he takes down one ork with a knife throw to the head. He eliminates a second with a shot to the head. A few grenades are tossed and seven more go down. To see him move with such ease through the orks encourages the others to fight with the same method. Other ork camps receive the same method of attack as the guardsmen under Max clear the coast line away. The army collects any useful parts of metal to melt down. Three piles of dead orks are burned away to cleanse the area. As the war alerts more ork camps to come join the battle, the guardsmen stand ready and eager to fight. An ork pack comes rushing at the defenders. Before anyone can fire, Max leaps them. He fires three times and takes down three orks. He throws more grenades out and levels the landscape in front of him. The orks stop in their tracks and roar for a physical fight; Max turns again to everyone for support.
He roars, "Rise up! Follow me into paradise!"
The guardsmen feel moved by his words that even storm troopers cry for victory. Many troopers join Max and lay down fire for him. Conscripts and new recruits are constantly showing no sign of retreat or faltering. The orks that try to retreat are chased after by groups and gunned down. The whole army has their voices announcing the name of a new ork killer. All down the coast line, they stop the enemy with unchecked strength; many orks that they encounter are no longer considered a threat or anything that must be feared. Groups of recruits volunteer to lead the hunt for small gretchin. As long as Max Johnson leads the army, no ork will be safe at the coast, in the jungle, or on the mainland of Saneesh. After destroying the fourth ork settlement, the guardsmen take a moment to rest up. The morale is at an all-time high. On the way back to the imperial camp, many guardsmen now speak of Max as a force of untapped warp power. The storm troopers honor and respect the word of Max and accompany him. The army arrives at the camp by night. With victory still fresh in their mind, the guardsmen keep up the defense and watch for any trouble approaching. Max takes to his tent and finds a small company of commandos and captains waiting for orders. He nearly laughs at the readiness they show; however, he issues them simple orders to follow.
He says, "If you are looking for orders, it is simple. Secure the area. Watch for any signs of orks approaching and be ready to move out by dawn tomorrow. We still have at least a few more camps that must be dealt with. That is all for now, dismissed."
The group acknowledges his orders and set their company on the tasks; Max takes a moment to sit back and enjoy himself. As the Max tries to rest up, he hears a small whisper in the air. He ignores the words and falls asleep. Two hours later, he hears the voice again. Max leaves his tent; he is armed with only his sword and laspistol. A group of storm troopers try to accompany him. Instead, he orders them to be ready for any sudden strikes on the camp. Max heads out into the mainland and searches for the voice. He pushes pass bushes and areas the army has been at. Something is amiss; the once dead ork bodies are now gone. Max journeys further in only to discover more strange sightings. He sees marks on trees that are made by others. The more he goes in, the louder the voice becomes.
The voice says, "Welcome…to…your…desire…Come…to…me."
Max readies his gun and weapon. He slowly passes through the next few areas as the voice keeps calling to him; he comes to an open field and sees a dark figure walking. Max slowly walks into the tall grass; the dark figure calls to him over and over. He stops once he is only a few feet away. Before he can react, dark eldar wyches ambush him and hold him down. They quickly disarm him of his gun and sword. The dark figure reveals herself to be Rela and she smiles with deadly smirk.
Max says, "I see you wasted no time coming back here. And you brought an interesting weapon with you. Are you going to make this a fair fight? I shouldn't be a problem for you, eldar witch."
She approaches him and drags her sharp nails against his flesh. Rela leaves a mark on his cheek as he struggles to get free. She brings the daemon sword to his neck and smiles gracefully.
Rela says, "This is how your life ends. You should have brought allies with you to make your death more pleasant. It is a shame that you will die alone."
Before she can lift the sword to strike, a blue blade cuts her cheek. Rela staggers backwards and roars in rage. Max turns his head to the direction the blade comes from. By the grace of the Golden Throne, there she stands on a rock with serious look. As beautiful as he remembers her, Kayleth of craft world Alaitoc stands ready for battle. Rela snarls at her former kin as she stands ready for battle. The rage is high and tension is intense.
Kayleth recovers her blade with her warp power, "What makes you think he is alone?"
Rela smiles at the damage done to her, "You left me with a painful cut. I will now leave you this small victory to bask in, but I shall return to claim you both."
Rela disappears as her wyches stand against Kayleth. Before they can move, Max takes the life of one and Kayleth slays the other. Once they are alone, Kayleth stands before Max. Though she wants to question him about his next plan, the eldar business at hand must not be made known to Max.
Max says, "If the dark eldar are here, then you obviously have a take in this. State your business and reasons, Kayleth."
She annoyingly replies, "You have no business here that concerns you, Max. You just happen to be in the way. And, like before, you fail to see what she is truly after. You should consider my interference a thank you for saving your life."
She tries to go; Max calls to her and grabs her hand. Kayleth stops and grips her sword.
He politely persuades her, "Come on, Kayleth. We are good allies and you need to work with me. Tell me why you and the dark eldar are here. Maybe, we can help each other."
She snatches her hand away and angrily questions, "You dare touch me again and you demand answers from me more? After I save your life, you dare order me to provide you with information that doesn't concern you. This is not for your ears, mon-keigh Max."
Max waits and continues to ask her for an answer. The more he attempts to gain her attention, the more she becomes irritated. He receives a crushing elbow to the chest; Max stumbles and rolls backwards away. He grips his chest. Max and Kayleth stand in the open field ready to fight. Suddenly, it feels cold to her, but she ignores the small change of the weather. Without the spirit stone of farseer Elenwe, Max barely stands a chance against matching her.
Kayleth urges him, "You should stand down. You have no spirit stone to help you; your allies are not here and you don't stand a chance against me. I don't want to kill you because your ego demands an answer from me. But, I will if I must."
Max shakes off the pain. The area returns to back to humid conditions and he replies, "It is you that I urge caution to as of now. I will not yield until you state your business. Unless you rather I try other means to catch your attention."
Kayleth is silent for a moment. She turns her back to him; Max believes for a moment that he can rest his guard. With fast reflexes, she sprints at him. Unable to see her movement, Max is grabbed by his harness and slammed into a tree nearby. He is unable to counter; she holds him firmly. The impact knocks his focus off; Kayleth leaves a gap of space between them. She waits to talk down to him.
After he regains his focus, Kayleth says, "You have no right to know of my business with Rela. I helped you stay alive for all that you have done for my kin. Now you seek to assault me with questions? I gave you a warning and that is all you will receive…"
Max looks into her eyes and thought, "She is so beautiful. Her focus is amazing; her skin is soft."
Kayleth looks at Max confused and lets him go. She looks at him with wonder and tries to understand why he didn't try to do anything.
She asks, "Why do you look at me in such a manner? What do you see when you look upon me?"
Max tries to approach her; she puts her sword to his neck. He stops in his tracks.
He answers, "You don't need to strike me down. I just find you so beautiful. That is all."
Kayleth slightly gasps at his words and backs away. She sees that her time around him makes everything different; she tries to leave only to feel a hand rest on her shoulder. Kayleth turns around and wants to strike. Instead, she stops and looks into the eyes of Max. She didn't understand what is going on, but the time for questions is over.
Kayleth sighs and replies, "I need to find a way to stop a daemon from destroying my kin. Rela is at the center of this plan. She is still here trying to gain more ways to be powerful than she is now. I will not let her win."
Max approaches her. She cautions him one last time with her sword at his face.
He says, "I may not know why you are so set on the idea to eliminate me, but know this. Rela will be stopped if you work with us. Not just for your own people, but for those who are around us. I will keep this meeting secret until I confer with the imperial guard commander to see what he plans on doing. I take my leave of you, Kayleth."
Before he can turn away, she grips his harness again. He looks at her and nearly forgets that there are important issues to handle.
Max flirtatiously says, "Is this your way of showing me you are interested? Or, do you want to get closer than before?"
She calmly lets him go and disappears from his sight. Max smiles at how easily he leaves her with a few words. He does say out loud: "She is one beautiful woman. Even for an eldar warrior." As he walks away, Kayleth stills remains in the area hidden. She wants to hear more about why he finds her attractive. She leaves back to her kin with the knowledge of what Max said. There is not much he said at the time; however, she smiles a little more to know that a foolish mon-keigh of the imperial guard finds her beautiful. There may have been interesting questions that require answers, but the dark times are approaching for all on the planet.
Chapter 7: Section 7 – 4
"This is a serious accusation. It was ten years ago during my rise to power before the ork Bone Snappa even came to power himself. I would have told you both more when I realized who he was; however, I didn't want to raise his suspicions. That moment is now gone from us. He has a renegade army at his command. Now, he seeks to gain more power from performing small deeds. For every deed he does, he brings more followers to his side. Do not let his appearance give you doubt; you can not underestimate his need to have more. Never allow yourself to be unguarded around him. He is a person of terrible charisma and might that will swallow you whole. I have sent him on the ork hunts to keep a small band of followers under his command. Once they have been gone long enough, you will be dispatched to hunt him down and bring him back to me in shackles. He will be convicted as an agent against the imperial guard and executed. You two are the only ones who know of this truth. The special forces of the storm troopers are the only others that know of his crime. That man is not a proud person of the Imperium of Man. He is an agent of xeno filth that will eventually fall to the forces of Chaos. I issue you this charge to bring him down. By the grace of the Golden Throne and the blessing of the Emperor of Man, he must be stopped. Max Johnson must be stopped, or he must be killed. How he decides is up to him." Commander Vance the Bright (warrant).
As Lucas looks over the letter over again, he becomes conflicted. He still can't believe all that he has been told by Commander Vance. The very words still strike deep into his core. He straps on his side arm pistol and sword. The door opens and Lina walks in. She is sad like Lucas to know that what they heard is impossible to believe. She hugs him tightly; they take a moment to think of their battle plans and how they will approach Max. The only questions coming to mind are the same ones they want answers to.
"How do we look our faithful ally in the eyes and condemn him as an enemy? What is his side of the story? Why hide this information from us?"
Lucas asks, "Are you ready to do this? I don't know if what we are doing is right."
Lina kisses Lucas, "I only follow you, my love. If he is a traitor, so be it. If he is not a traitor, then he will explain it away. I am with you until the end; however, I do want to know more than what Vance has told us about Max. The vox recording was old, so it will be better to hear it from Max."
Lucas begs the Emperor to show them guidance as they undertake a harsh decision. They didn't have much time left before they move out. They both finish getting ready and head to their officers to issue the orders; Lucas addresses his group. The recently added preachers of the Ecclesiarchy keep the morale of the guardsmen high and remind them of why the Emperor is still with them.
One Preacher loudly spouts, "The charges of Commander Vance are from the high and mighty who serve the Imperium with no rest. So long as the Emperor of Mankind is with us, Commander Vance will not give up on us. Rise up and prepare to strike."
Lucas calls to his companies, "We stand here together to rid ourselves of a new threat from within our ranks. Once we are aboard the War Harbinger, our orders will be given to us. Let us not waste any time in carrying out the orders of Commander Vance and deal with this crisis."
As everyone heads to the shuttle, many faces of the guardsmen are confused. A few troops try to question Lucas until the heavy escorting storm troopers shoves them back into their line. Before any problems turn violent, Lucas orders the guardsmen to hurry and board the ship. He hangs back and the storm troopers stand by waiting. Once the vast majority of his companies are on board, Lucas allows the storm troopers to return back to Commander Vance. Lina joins him on the last shuttle up. She goes over the details with him, but the information still does not sit well with them.
Lina reports, "We got a newly installed warp drive. As for our current objective, Max has led the troops to this location on Saneesh. Based on the information, his guardsmen don't have anything to stop us from bombardment. We…"
Lucas hushes her, "The objective for now is to find him. Once we find him, we will question him ourselves. If there are any signs that he is chaos affiliated with the xenos, he will receive an honorable execution by the firing squad and buried as he should be. If not, then we will look further into this matter with high command."
Lucas assures Lina that a secondary plan will be set into motion before any harsh motives are done. Once aboard the War Harbinger, Lina alerts the operators of the ship. Lucas locates the console and addresses the troops. He does what he can to speak the issue with the right words. Even if the order comes from Commander Vance, he still believes anything is easy to explain.
He says, "Attention guardsmen, our orders come from Commander Vance himself. We are to capture and bring in Max Johnson on accounts of heresy to the imperium. Under no orders are we to shoot to kill. We will bring him in on our terms. And if Commander Vance has a problem with it, he can take it up with me. Your orders for encountering Max are simple: Find him and bring him to me alive. That is all."
Once the orders are given, the ship takes to the sky. As everyone questions the command of Vance to bring in Max, many still wonder the unanswered questions. Nothing is right about this new order from Vance.
"What has Max done? Why is he our target? What evidence does Commander Vance have on him? Is he an agent of Chaos? Does he plot against the Imperium of Man with the xenos? Is he helping the xeno filth with some unholy power?"
Many more unanswered questions swirl around the War Harbinger as many captains begin to voice their concerns. Lucas keeps his focus on the objective; the problem he now faces is either performing his duty to Commander Vance or defying an order to save Max. He looks over the inventory to take his mind off the trouble. Shortly, a small riot occurs on level two and three between several guardsmen companies that didn't agree with the mission. The orders to bring Max in seem too unbelievable. Some call it crazy and handfuls of them look at the situation as madness mixed with ignorance. The rest remain unsure about it; Lina comes to Lucas as they both look over the orders again. Before the ship goes any further, a small explosion erupts on the ship. The damage is moderate and alarms scream throughout the ship. Lina pulls up the status of the ship; Lucas heads to rally some men to investigate the problem. He rushes his company down one level and las-gun fire is heard. Men take cover behind any available equipment. Lucas approaches one of the officers.
The officer says, "Sir, we have possible traitors among our unit. They have claimed allegiance to Max Johnson. The claim is something about wanting a new empire."
At the other side of the level, they hear a man shout and stand proud. In the midst of battle aboard the War Harbinger, a threat comes to Lucas.
The man shouts, "In the name of Noble Max, we seek to bring about a new order. You shall die aboard your ship as an offering to our esteemed leader. Only he can bring about order from this madness you seek to continue."
Lucas organizes the company and quickly subdues the enemy. Instead of ordering an execution, he has them locked up for further interrogation. A second blast goes off as five shuttles from the fourth level leave out.
Lina reports, "Sergeant Major Lucas, the enemy is trying to leave. I am getting reports from skitarii groups keeping them pinned down. The hanger doors on level four must be closed manually. Hurry and provide assistance."
Lucas orders the rest of his companies to be aware of anything or anyone acting suspicious. He rushes pass more captured companies claiming their alliance and loyal to Max. With the confusion slowly fading, Lucas starts to question what else Max has in mind. He wants to declare Max a traitor, but he holds his promise to question him personally.
After his arrival to the fourth level, Lucas observes the last of the enemy shuttles trying to leave. The skitarii squads move up their lines and gun down the few that are left. Lucas halts their advance as they all take cover.
He says, "I will make for the panel on the wall to close the hanger doors. Do not advance any more on them. We don't want them to get any suicide plans in motion."
With his order in place, the false claimers of Max move out against the skitarii legion. Lucas sees the panel and sprints as fast as he can to the device; he dodges las-gun fire. Just as he is about to touch the panel, it is destroyed by a single bolter shot. He looks over to see a mob of more traitors come out from hiding. Lucas rushes back to cover and hears the damning words from the enemy.
One says, "You think this is how it ends for us? Ha! We will gladly take down this ship in his name. Max Johnson shall be our beacon of hope as we destroy what is left of his enemies. He stopped the war boss on Ragnar. He has turned the tide against the dark forces. We shall now give him the opportunity he needs to eliminate his foe Commander Vance the Bright."
Lucas looks over to see that the guardsmen have assembled a bomb to take out the hanger. The explosive will destroy the ship if activated. There are no options; time is getting short. Lucas didn't know what else to do.
Lina radios to Lucas, "I have monitored the commotion on deck four. There is a way for this to end peacefully. I need you, the skitarii legion and anyone else loyal to us to move to the right of the ship. Any metal bar, pipe, or object that is free must be grabbed on. You will understand in a few moments."
Lucas widens his eyes; he knows something crazy is about to happen. He orders his followers to run as fast as they can to the other side of the ship away from the opening. The enemy laughs at them as they grab on to pipes and metal bars. Many jump on hellhounds and battle tanks that are strapped down to the floor. As the ship slows down, the front end rises upward and leans to the exposed side. The traitors slowly fall and slide out the hangar door. The bomb follows most of them out and explodes just a few feet away from the ship. Once the ship is free of any danger, Lina orders her operators to steer the War Harbinger back to an upright position. Lucas uses the time to round up any more hidden traitors in the ship and captures the remaining two hundred left aboard. Ten shuttles from early carried about fifteen hundred men ground side. After order is restored, Lucas keeps his anger in check as he interrogates the mad men before him.
One man cries, "For Max Johnson, I will gladly kill you."
Lucas shoots him in the head and approaches another insane follower.
The next man shouts, "I should have killed you so Max wouldn't have to face you."
Lucas squeezes the trigger and puts the man down with a shot to the face. He comes to the third man who nervously shakes.
Lucas says, "You seem to know something. You saw what happen to the other two men before you. That is how you will end up if you don't tell me what I want to know."
A third man says, "By the grace of Max, you say a word and I will gut your…"
Lucas cuts the man's speech short as he fires a shot at his head. The death of the soldiers frightens the man greatly.
The nervous man replies, "I don't know anything. All I know is what I was told."
Lucas tries to eliminate the nervous talker; however, Lina arrives and approaches the man. The tech teams and engineers keep the ship taken care of; she assists Lucas with the problem as much as possible.
She unloosens his rope, "Look, it is obvious you are a fool following the blind. I understand you have orders, so why don't you tell me what you know?"
The man calms his nerves and says, "I was told by my officers that we have been given a sign from Max Johnson to deliver his message. We received word back from our unit that is with Max to bring down the War Harbinger by any means. I swear to you that is what I know."
Lina leads the man away from the others and nods to Lucas. He takes one look at the deceivers of Max. With a gesture of his hand, the loyal followers of Lucas gun down the captured men. The lone man is allowed to return to his post. Though he betrayed his fellows, they keep a close watch on him. Lina sets her tech priest workers to repairing the ship. Lucas orders his officers to carefully watch for any more mad followers of Max. After he returns to his private chamber, he lets out a huge sigh of relief. A knock is at his door. He opens it to find Lina smothering him with affection.
She says, "I apologize if I put you and the others in harm's way. It had to be done to save the ship once I heard about the bomb. I won't do that again."
Lucas smiles a little, "It is alright and I understand. You did save me and the others; now we have a reason to question what is happening. It will begin once we get to Max. And yes, I knew you had something crazy in mind. The plan worked regardless if I thought you were out of your techno mind."
With her face blushing, Lina tries to turn away. Lucas brings her focus back to him; he shows her so much care. She still finds it slightly odd that Lucas wants her. As the journey continues, many continue to do what they will and remember the words of Lucas. The order is to capture Noble One Max Johnson alive.
Chapter 7: Section 7 – 5
The Faded Light slowly glides on the skies in the far south. The mission to save their craft world becomes more dangerous than ever. As every eldar is present to hear the words of Kayleth, she waits patiently before taking the center floor of the ship.
She says, "Hear me, my fellow kin. Our foe Rela has continued to grow stronger since our last encounter. I know not how she has done it, but we must turn back to using the mon-keigh to fight our battles for us. Max Johnson, the former owner of the spirit stone Elenwe, is now in the costal lands fighting orks. He will be more useful to us than his other allies. We will provide him with assistance against the orks. Once they are dealt with, he will honor our request to assist us. If not, we will guide him to the enemy through force if needed. For now, we shall wait until the opportunity comes."
As the eldar return to their station, Veldoran questions her, "Is Rela that powerful? What has transpired since your last sightings upon her?"
Kayleth answers, "Somehow, Rela is much stronger than before. Her power has increased surprisingly since the planet Ragnar disappeared back into the warp. And the daemon infused weapon is stronger than ever. I believe she used whatever happened on Ragnar to give her the power she needs. I know of nothing else."
Before she can leave, Veldoran adds, "What else has transpired between you 'two', if anything did?"
She admits, "Max has been slightly more different with each time we encounter one another. He sees something in me that he refuses to share or enlighten me of. I do not know what it is, but he sees it."
Veldoran jokingly says, "Maybe it is love."
Kayleth scoffs at the idea that Max can find love with her. She did admire the little things about him. With no more words to say, the eldar set down on the surface and establish a base. The bone singers craft the bases as the eldar warriors take various spots on the ground. Once half of the camp is set up, a few humans invade their territory. The howling banshees put them down and save one for questions.
The woman soldier laughs, "You will not get an answer from me. I serve Max Johnson. His plans will be done by the faithful."
Kayleth stabs the woman in the heart and ends her useless chatter; Veldoran nods in agreement with Kayleth. The eldar will not waste time taking prisoners alive. The next path is clear. They will slaughter any and all guardsmen who stand against them until they find Max Johnson. After the war camp is finished setting up, the eldar warriors sprint out into the landscape. They come across a small imperial camp. The people there are gearing up for a raid; Kayleth holds her army back as she goes in to hear the people talk. She cloaks herself and slips pass their defenders with no trouble. Once she is in range, she listens to the words of the mad.
One man says, "Max Johnson is no traitor to us. He brings us hope that we will receive once we have completed the task before us. We must stop his former allies from taking him alive and eliminate his eldar quickly. There can be no mercy for what he will do for us. The imperial guard will be destroyed and the eldar won't stop the new empire. Let us go men. Our destiny for glory is here."
Kayleth leaps in the air and runs her sword through the man. Her cloak drops as she looks at the soldiers. The troops rush for their guns. Eldar howling banshees rush in and slay large numbers of the groups. A few scatter in all directions. Kayleth approaches a wounded man. Before she delivers the killing blow, Veldoran stops her. He walks to the man and places his hand on the man's forehead. In seconds, he reads his thoughts and discovers a frightening truth.
Veldoran pulls back and says, "Max is more than just a problem for these fanatics. I will explain along the way if you wish to help him from any horrible trap."
She slices off the man's head, "We go to find Max and discover why he is the beacon of hope for these men."
The eldar advance to the next area; they slaughter the mad mon-keigh along the way. The same words are constantly spoken; each guardsmen claim the same words before dying. Before they advance any further, Veldoran sends a few teams back to camp. A small company of eldar make their way to the last known area where the army of Max was at. They find the dead orks all around. Before going any further, Kayleth sees a small mark on one of the dead soldiers. She calls Veldoran over. They see the mark of Rela on the person's neck. The mission becomes critical as they hurry along the way. A set of warp spiders appear before Kayleth. One of the captains has surprising news.
The warp spider captain reports: "The mon-keigh ship 'War Harbinger' moves towards the location of the others. We have relocated our war camp further along the coast. The Faded Light is on the way should we require additional firepower."
Veldoran adds, "Be sure to set up our defenses. Our objective is close. Expect many surprises along the way."
Kayleth shows signs of worry on her face. When asked what troubles her, she replies, "I am concerned about these double agents of the imperial guard that serve Rela. Should they convince either Max or his allies to turn on us, we will be stuck between two fights. Our safest course is to find Max before them."
The eldar agree, but Veldoran says, "Are you doing this to keep our pawns alive to use later on? Or, did Max really get to you, Autarch Kayleth?"
She coldly answers, "I am not so easily subdued by a human's appearance. I seek his cooperation more than the others. These agents of Rela are nothing more than trouble for Max and his army; we will do what we can to help him."
As the eldar speed up and move as fast as lighting, they keep hearing reports about the trouble in the land. They arrive at a small section to discover guardsmen pin down by a group of traitors. Once the enemy is dealt with, Kayleth asks about their main base of operations.
A soldier says, "We were with Max until this happen. He was last seen heading to the cliffs by the coast. We also are hearing more strange reports coming in now. We have to save him."
Kayleth stops them, "You are in no position to help. Stay here and signal for help. We shall retrieve your leader and bring this matter to order."
The eldar continue to move and save guardsmen along the way. Many traitors die still believing in their cause for Max; it takes them a long journey to make it to the end. The eldar look to see a landscape of war and guardsmen fight among each other. Kayleth scans the land and sees him holding the line. He cuts down a soldier and fires at another person. As more troops fall in behind him and hold their position, the enemy tries every possible tactic to break their morale. Noble One Max Johnson stands firm in the face of traitors loyal to Rela. The eldar receive one last report on the War Harbinger approaching. The eldar rush in; Kayleth sees Max fall after being shot in the arm and hip. She concentrates on her speed and runs ahead of the others. Veldoran sneaks over with his warp powers keeping him hidden. The howling banshees slay and attack the approaching enemy. Kayleth runs through and slays many of them. Like before, she finds Max hurt and at his side. He struggles to get up; the wounds pain him dearly. Max looks up to see Kayleth stand beside him with her blade dripping with blood.
He says, "I see you have no shortage of showing up when needed. Why are you here?"
Kayleth answers, "I came to inform you of the new allies you have. They are more reckless than your former associates. It seems they beat me to it. Where are your friends?"
A signal comes in over the radio: "This is Sergeant Major Turner. All ground forces are to cease fighting at once. Failure to follow orders will result in annihilation."
The guardsmen under Max put up a strong defense. The eldar join Max and his army; the armies on both sides stop fighting after the War Harbinger comes in view. A few scores of mad men remain as the rest run everywhere. It didn't take Lucas and Lina long to bring reinforcements to the ground. They secure the area and gun down the unjust. Many more are taken as captives for questioning. As Max attends to his wounds, Kayleth sends her remaining scouts off to report back to the Faded Light. She goes to find Max and pulls his focus away from the others. Despite his wounds, Kayleth wants to question him first before the others can.
She says, "If you are no longer being cared for your wounds, we have much to discuss in private. There is more going on here that must be made clear."
Lucas and Lina walk up, "Before you steal him from us, we have an imperial command from Commander Vance to take him in alive. You will have to get in line if you want time with him."
Kayleth turns to them with her sword drawn, "I believe you humans have a saying: First come, first serve. I was here providing support to Max long before you came. He will go with us."
Max laughs and adds, "So, she finally admits to saving me and wants me to herself. This day just got interesting."
Before she can whirl around and shout at him, Lucas orders his soldiers to surround them.
He says, "Max is not yours for the taking, eldar witch. You shall release him to us. We have questions that concern his origins. Our commander has shared sensitive information with us about who he is."
Veldoran and several eldar appear around Kayleth. He says, "If you desire to have him, then you shall fail now that we are here in force."
The people look to the sky to see the Faded Light vessel floating quietly beside the War Harbinger ship. The guns on both ships are ready to fire. Before anyone says or does any sudden movement, Max fires his gun twice. One shot is fired at the feet of Lucas. The other shot hits the ground by Kayleth. Max gets all eyes focused on him. He walks to the edge of the cliff with many ready to either hear his words or slay him outright.
Max sighs heavily; he places his weapons away and turns to face everyone. He looks at Lucas, Lina, Veldoran, and Kayleth with great shame. Before anyone can begin questioning him, a sudden chill in the air causes everyone to feel cold. Max looks at his hands; he looks back to everyone else. He can see that it is no longer the time for him to hide.
He says, "I understand that this is confusing for all of you. I will speak with the eldar and my friends about what they have learned or need to know of. You all need to hear the truth than be kept in the dark. It will come as a shock to all of you. All I want to know is this: Will you still follow and trust me?"
Lucas, Kayleth, Lina, Veldoran, and all who are present grow slightly uncomfortable around Max. As the cold feeling leaves, Max sighs and sees what is really going on. He may not have told them much, but he agrees to share all that he knows. The familiar allies stand on common ground as the center of their strings hold together by Max Johnson. The camp leaders agree to move far away from the area. They find an unknown region on the planet to discuss their plans for setting up defenses and establish a camp. The eldar and guardsmen that know of each other welcome their long absent allies again. Many new comers feel threaten by the presence of the eldar. As both the Faded Light and War Harbinger silently float away, a familiar face looks on and reports what is being viewed. The tale of Noble One Max Johnson will now be told.