To Hate Them Heretical

ME:1/ME:2 Bridge

Chapter 4

Thud, Vasir body hits the stone floor lifeless. All her knowledge ripped from her mind. Most of it useless to the Imperium, there are a few gems however. The location of the Shadow Broker and the Council's involvement in the Battle of the Flotilla. T.I.M. Smiles as he calls Horus and Lord Solar Hoeth on the vox.

His hologram flickers for a few seconds before hardening. Looking at the cold icy visage of Hoeth the Lord Inquisitor nods his head in greeting, without waiting for reply he turns to Horus making the sign of the Aquila. "Why have you interrupted us Lord Inquisitor?" Hoeth hisses out. With a twitch of his lips T.I.M thinks, He must not have wiped out any foes of humanity in while.

"I Lord Solar am invocating the Inquisitional mandate. I want one squad of Astartes. I have discovered the location of the Shadow Broker's Base of Operations. My senior agents are all currently running down other lines of investigation."

"Very well Inquisitor. Tactical squad Talon will be sent to Watch Fortress Cronos till you have now use for them. The cruiser Lightening Storm will be their assigned vessel." Replies Horus.

"Thank your lordship. May the Emperor Guide and Protect Us." T.I.M says with reverence filling his voice. His hologram disappears shortly after.

"While one cruiser won't hurt our forces the lack of ten Marines will." Remarks Hoeth in his clipped accent.

"Our forces are not strong enough to conquer both the hegemony and the Terminus Systems at the same time regardless Hoeth. You will have the bulk of our best combatant ships with elements of the Elysian Drop Troopers and a mixed unit of Astartes. I want you to hit their outposts, free and recover their slaves, and wipe them from the stars. No taking planets, we don't have the strength yet. We can however bleed their navy dry."

"While you do this," Horus, "Ignis and I will be leading the rest of the fleet and the majority of Guardsmen to take the Terminus System. He and Zephyrus will do the Emperor proud to gaze upon us. To ensure we are worthy of my Father's blessing. Von Speer, Tyr, Drake, and the Lord Inquisitor will be continuing to organize and build up our Imperium. This will ensure that you get all of the resources our armies will need."

"Of course Milord. A simple and effective battle plan especially with the Inquisition softening up the Terminus Systems for us. I take I will still have the Asgardia and that Ignis will get the Strike Cruiser Fury of the Night?"

"Yes we need to thoroughly battle test our hybrid designed ships and these skirmish campaigns will be prefect." Says a smiling Horus. He is happy that his Lord Solar said Ignis's name with no hint of underlying disgust or hatred.

The Lighting Storm and its escorts pour forth into real space covering the Sowilo System. The ships drives flare as they converge on the third planet. Hagalaz wreathed in an eternal storm is where the Broker has decided to make his lair. Scanning the planet take mere seconds to find the small frigate. A brace of Assault Boats are launched. Harnesses tighten as the Sharks increase their dives.

Visions get fuzzy, pulses quicken as the two dozen Centurions brace for impact. In the middle craft ten giants stand as statues dedicated to war. The vox clicks open and the deep voice of the veteran sergeant booms forth, "Our Father who waits upon the Golden Throne, Hear our plea, Grant us the strength to defy your foes, Grant us the will to ignore their blandishments, Grant us the courage to stand before them, with your grace, we shall know no fear. Ave Imperator!"(Created by Nicholas Hadrain).

With the words of faith filling the Sharks dive. The heat increases as the boats dive through the atmosphere fire covering their consecrated hulls. Lightning strikes around them, thunder roaring call drowns out the pounding of the engines and the shuddering of the metal. Like a sword thrust from the heavens the Sharks slam into the thin fragile hull of the shadow Brokers ship.

Several unlucky guards were in the path of the heavy assault craft and turned to a red watery paste. Doors slam open and the thunderous foot falls of the Emperor's Angels fill the quiet hall. As the Marines and Centurions fan out alarms ring as the lighting dims and is replaced by blood red strips. The dark grey walls glow ominously as the three teams head for their objectives; CIC, Engineering, and the Bridge.

The Broker in a bid to stop the relentless onslaught of death dealing angels throws wave after wave of men and mechs at the Knights of the Storm. Their weapons do little to the ceramite and adamantium power armor. While the rocket propelled bolts cleave through the hard suits with resistance. Red eyes glare harshly in the dim light, the barking roar of the holy bolter herald's death. Where ever the Astartes fight the corridor is left covered in blood and parts. The thin metal bulkheads have deep gauges marking the passage of the armor piercing bolts and thin scrapes were the instinctive last burst of a dying warrior.

The Marines quickly force their way into the Brokers control. The massive solid alien turns and snarls, "Astartes. You and your Inquisition as come at last." With a deep growl he grabs a Revenant LMG and opens fire. The supersonic grain size shards of metal glow an armor-piercing red. The Marines dodge the incoming fire and leave the armored xeno to their sergeant.

"By my blade Xeno you will fall," states the Astartes. Drawing his gilded chainsword, he thumbs the activator rune and roars alongside the blade, "I am the His Justice Given Flight!"

The Yahg roars in defiance, "Your skulls will make excellent trophies!" The Yahg activates an Omni-shield as the chainsword descends. Sparks fly as the razor sharp teeth scrape off the orange flash forged metals. With a grunt a power shod boot lashes out and throws the Yahg across the room. A dull crack is heard as bones break under the sudden pressure. As the Broker gets up the Astartes slams into the massive orkoid xeno. The gold inscribed blade is shoved deep into its bowels. The teeth tear through the ropey intestines with a loud wet squelching noise. Dragging the sword through the chest cavity the Broker roars in anguish as the Astartes pins him to the wall.

With a sharp powerful jerk the sword and a fountain of blood spring from the Yahg lower jaw and shoulder. The Broker dies in abject agony as it watches a massive deep blue metal boot crush what is left of its head repeatedly. The brains and skull fragments are imbedded into the deck plating. The Astartes bows as the inquisitor his brothers were escorting comes in.

"Good work Sargent. You and your brothers may return to the cruiser. My retinue and I have the situation in hand." Says the Inquisitor.

"Very well sir." Replies the Astartes. As one they leave and march in prefect timing to the nearest shuttle bay.

The Inquisitor interfaces and demands updates and statues of every Broker operation and asset to be delivered to him through standard channels within twenty-four hours.

The Emperor's reach just got a little longer.

Author Note: Only two Bridge Chapters to go till the Sequel: Imperium Rising.