-XLIX-
"Run, you traitor scum!" shouted Horatus as the las-fire around them died out.
"Why did they attack us?" asked Renon reloading his bolter.
"Maybe you can answer that for us." accused Horatus turning on him.
Renon was taken aback "You think, we ordered them?"
"They are your soldiers, aren't they?"
"You dare!" breathed Grilleo walking towards Horatus with angry strides.
If Horatus was a mere man the closing of Grilleo would made him piss himself. But Horatus stood firm against the oncoming Marine.
"You have something to say to me?" asked Horatus removing his helmet.
"I sure do." said Grilleo bumping Horatus in the chest. Their aquilas scraped one another in a metallic sound.
"Horatus, stand down." said Ioras not even looking at the commotion, he was standing ahead beside Achagon.
"How do we know you didn't ordered your pets on us?" pressed Horatus.
"Come on, we don't need this right now." said Deciaci pulling Horatus away from Grilleo.
"Spahkii are commanded by our Captains, but they are not life-bound to us." said Renon.
"So you admit you control them." said Horatus.
"Did you even heard what I said?" said Renon.
"You don't just accuse us of treachery and walk away, Spear." growled Grilleo.
Realising he wasn't able to move Horatus away, Deciaci instead get between Grilleo and Horatus.
"I'm not accusing anything, I'm saying you ordered them to." said Horatus.
"Are you going to let your Marine talk to us this way?" asked Renon to Ioras.
Ioras said something inaudible to Achagon and then turned towards the commotion and walked slowly.
"I said, stand down, Horatus." he said.
Horatus immediately went from a challenging posture to a neutral one.
"I was just-" he tried to explain himself.
Ioras lifted up a hand to shut him up.
"If you suspect us of betrayal, then tell it to my face." said Renon to Ioras.
"We were attacked by Imperial forces. This raises many questions that are yet to be answered." said Ioras.
"Your men dare brand us as traitors and this is all that you have to say?" said Grilleo.
Ioras looked at the angry Lion Warrior. "I am not branding anyone a traitor unless I have solid proof." he stated.
Grilleo looked displeased, he was expecting a defensive or offensive response not a neutral one. Ioras realised that the Lion Warriors relations worked in pack mentality. You either pushed or pulled, there was no middle ground for the leaders.
But Emperor's Spears had a different ideology than bluntness. They looked for opportunities in situations and exploited them.
"This situation doesn't suit our position. We are still in enemy territory and on top of that we were attacked by a once-ally force." said Ioras.
He was expecting the worst from Spahkii captain and he wasn't impressed.
"I don't hold you responsible for this event but I also don't rule out anyone of suspicion. Your men..." he nodded towards Grilleo "...can settle his honour disputes with Horatus in the ring of combat, but not before we reach safety. I am not going to lose marines to this mission because of someone got his heart broken." he said.
"That's just another way to say you don't trust us." reflected Renon.
"I don't. Should I?" asked Ioras with a sincere question.
Renon didn't reply.
"Now that you people vented your frustration out on each other, I order us to move." he said walking away from the group and towards the Ork base.
"What have you got?" he voxed Achagon, which was nowhere to be seen.
Sniper's voice came in crackling "Orks are advancing towards the Red River."
"How many?"
"A lot, estimated two thousand. They have tanks and fast moving machines." reported Achagon.
"That doesn't sound good. Regroup with us atop the hill. We are going back."
"Yes, lord." Achagon's vox cut.
"Trouble?" asked Julius walking beside Ioras.
"Orks are on the move. As predicted this was just a side base."
"Where are we going next?" asked Julius.
"We return to the hive, there we can contact Golema and get picked up."
"Finally we leave this corrupted planet." said Julius.
"Corrupted?" asked Ioras rising an eyebrow.
Julius realised he slipped something he didn't wanted Ioras to learn about.
"Orks and alien tombs. Corruption as thick as blood." Julius jinxed away from the topic.
Ioras let it go "Sure. But now we are charged with bigger problems."
"Spahkii?"
"They are just pawns, we have unseen enemies among our so called allies."
"Now that the portal is closed, Lions doesn't have a motivation to hunt us."
"They are glory hounds, we might just caused them insult by doing their jobs for them."
"And that would be reason enough to get us killed?"
"Can't say. But the only obvious thing is that we are being hunted for an unknown reason."
"I don't think they mean us harm." expressed Julius.
"How so?"
"I don't feel..."
"Feel what?" asked Julius.
"They would turn on us once the Spahkii spring their trap, we were vulnerable." he reflected.
"It is to their credit, sure. But we need to stay sharp if we want to unveil our real enemies."
"Yes, lord." said Julius.
They met up with Achagon in the invaded Ork base and found their Chimera transports intact.
"Where are the drivers?" asked Horatus.
"I bid them go with the rest of the forces." said Ioras.
"At least Spahkii didn't found them or it would be a long walk." said Julius.
Ioras was clever enough to change the Chimera park location once the Commissar Gus told him that the Spahkii were missing.
Achagon was waiting for them, he took cover behind the Chimeras.
He walked towards them, pointing at a huge dust cloud.
"See that?" he asked.
"Orks." growled Horatus.
"Thousands of them." said Achagon.
"Can they reach us?" asked Julius.
"We can outrun the main bulk with the Chimeras but they have fast attack vehicles." informed Achagon.
"Then we better get going, into the Chimeras. Cussax, Fextus, you are driving." ordered Ioras.
"Yes, lord." came the replies as all the squad broke into movement.
They entered from the back hatch of the Chimeras, luckily the wide hold of the vehicle welcomed their bulk.
Drivers took their place and started up the engine. Chimeras groaned in protest to be started without the incantation of flowing cycle.
Space Marines didn't care and stepped on the pedal. Duo of vehicles roared out of the gate they came in, leaving the Ork base behind.
They went over the trenches, each one a huge bump.
Horatus hit the top of his head on the roof as the Chimera bumped "Warped thing." he cursed slamming the roof of the Chimera "Good old Rhinos have roof hatches unlike these grenade canisters." he said.
"Orks spotted." came in driver's voice over the vox.
"How many?" asked Ioras.
"Several, bikers from the looks of them."
"Man the guns." said Ioras, himself taking up the ladder to the turret hatch.
He pushed open the hatch and revealed himself to open air. He saw Julius at the other hatch.
Two multilaser turrets rotated backwards and aimed at the Orks in the distance.
"On target." came in Achagon's voice over the vox.
"Open fire." ordered Ioras.
Powerful laser fire zipped towards the rushing Ork warbikers. One biker was shot twice by the laser and jerked backwards off his seat in pain. It wasn't clear to Julius whether he was killed or not but he fell and was out of combat for good.
Bikes were faster than the chimeras but the pocket marked terrain make it dangerous more for the Orks who still speed up to get in close with their prey.
"They're gaining on us." voxed Julius.
"Kill anyone who gets in close." ordered Ioras.
"Yes, lord." replied Julius synchronizing his bolter with his helmet, so he didn't had to aim down the sights. With the bumps aiming would be useless and he trusted the visor feed provided by his boltgun.
One of the bikers got in close, firing his twin big shootas onto the back of the Chimera.
Julius snapped several rounds, missing them all. The chimera rose and fell down the trenches and explosion craters making aiming hell of a job.
Turret he is riding fired at the same biker and killed him, blowing apart the bike. A wheel flew sideways as the bike spun as a wreck.
Multilaser turrets had stabilizers on them that allowed the gun to be fired with accuracy even under conditions like these.
"Bike killed." came in Renon's voice over the gunner vox.
"Keep it up." said Julius as he snap fired at another biker. This one was armed with a slugga and a spiky maul. It had a burna welded to the side of the full. Ork tried to came in close and fired his burna onto the back of the Chimera. Flames missed the vehicle and only caused minor burns on the metallic hull. Lucky for the Ork that the missing flames moved aside and also missed him. However Orks reflexes caused him to steer right hard, he bumped into a small raised ground and his bike went flying into the air.
Julius counted that one was disabled but the Ork biker managed to keep his bike straight through the air and landed on it's wheels. He lost speed and ground but he was still in the fight.
"Damned Ork maniacs." said Julius firing at another biker.
One biker armed with a slugga came between the two Chimeras. His special kustom slugga had two longer barrels that allowed more dakka to be fired per wheel roll. He snapped several shots at Ioras, missing most. Two shots glanced off Ioras's armour. Ioras fired at the biker managing to land a glancing hit on the biker, exploding bolt round spanned the biker Ork's shoulder armour and threw it into the dust.
Julius was about to fire on the biker but realised another biker was approaching fast. This one has a kombi-shoota, with one rokkit welded under the shoota barrel.
"Rocket!" he warned into the vox, he and Ioras fired full auto onto the new coming biker. One bolt round entered the Ork's skull, exploding it outwards. In his death Ork's muscle spasm pulled the trigger, rokkit launched and flew over Julius' head. Julius ducked and a smoking trail went over his head as the rokkit passed by.
The Ork was put down as the lasguns at the back of the Chimeras opened fire. Ork was hit by a dozen repeating lasbolts before he went down. His bike dropped sideways and jumped into the air being mauled by the kinetic energy it had. It spun three times and landed sideways.
"Good shooting." Julius commented.
"These guns are puny." came in Horatus' displeased voice.
"At least now you know how the guardsmen feel." Julius said back.
"I don't want to know." replied Horatus.
There were four more Ork bikers coming in and their banter cut short as another rocket landed on one of the Chimeras and blew the back hatch from it's hinges. Hatch was still holding the Chimera and dangled on the floor, hopping and hitting the ground as it trashed violently.
Iulius appeared at the edge of the hold and fired his heavy bolter into the bent metal holding the hatch, one round ricocheted dangerously but two others blew apart the metal, freeing the hatch and leaving it behind as the Chimera speed up.
"We are gaining." said Ioras as the Chimeras gained speed.
Orks had suffered heavily and Julius expected any sane person to retreat under this circumstances. Ork bikers however had something different in mind. Seeing that their prey is leaving them in dust fired up something in the warbikers. They throttled their warbikes violently with hopes of catching up. In several seconds Ork warbikes were closing in on the two clumbersome Chimeras.
"They're still reaching for us." said Julius.
Two multilaser turrets killed one warbiker and maimed another with their fuselage.
"They're crazy, pushing their vehicles like that." said Iulius seeing the Orks. He fired on them in a spray of bolt shots with no hits.
One biker closed in and had a grenade at hand. It closed in on the one Julius is riding. Julius tried to snap shots at him but he missed. As the warbike closed in on the vulnerable back side of the Chimera, the hatch dropped open and Rexus came about.
He fired his heavy flamer holding it in a two handed grasp. Flames washed over the biker and exploded his gas tanks, leaving a huge black cloud and a burning wreck behind.
Rexus punched the controls and the hatch rose up to close the hold again.
Ioras and Julius' concentrated fire created a kill zone for another biker and brought it down.
Multilasers dealt with the last one and left it trashing violently. Ork driver flew into a different direction and landed dead.
"Enemy eliminated." reported Julius.
He heard Renon pray silently, murmuring into the vox.
"O Lord the mighty lion, we thank thee for granting this victory..."
Julius thought of a prayer himself, he had studied the Chapter teaching, Codex Astartes and other religious sources throughout his years with the chapter. Surely his knowledge of theology wasn't as extensive as a priest's but at that moment his mind felt like a blank slate.
All the words of prayer eluded him. It was as if he never even read once sentence off the books.
"Must be the stress." he said to himself.
Things were preceding fast in their retreat and his mind was preoccupied.
"Emperor would forgive me this once." he thought.
Cussax' vox transmission broke his thoughts.
"We arrived at the Red River, Lord Ioras."
"Very good, proceed into the ravine. Any sign of Imperial forces?"
"We spot several still crossing the bridge, we can meet up with them once we passed it."
"Okay, try to reach into vox range."
"Yes, Lord."
Before they get into vox range, Malik had already spotted the two chimeras moving down the valley.
"Looks like our friends are back." he said.
Aaron and Ibrahim was busy with their elements moving over the bridge.
"Spears of Spahkii?" asked Aaron unable to see that far.
Malik voxed his sniper Jarmen and got confirmation.
"They're Spears alright. I don't know if any Spahkiis riding inside, but I wouldn't bet on it." he said.
"Where are the Spahkii then?" asked Aaron.
"Oh, I have a pretty good idea about that." he said grinning.
Aaron hated his smug expression and didn't ask the question just for spite.
Malik looked at his annoyed face with the edge of his eyes "You aren't asking." he said.
"I'm not going to." answered Aaron.
"Well, that's not professional." said Malik grinning.
"I would love to snap that grin of yours shut." replied Aaron.
Cafur of Balharethi and Drorit of Naphtali were beside their commanding officers and shared an uneasy glance with each other when they heard the insult.
Malik's grin stayed the same "I don't think you can pull off such a feat, ain't I right dear?" asked Malik to Drorit snapping a wink at her.
"I-I-I..." stuttered Drorit "I do-don't..."
"See? Even your own vox operator thinks so." said Malik cheerfully and slapped Aaron on the shoulder.
Aaron looked at his shoulder then back at Malik.
"Relax, will you?" said Malik looking into the distance.
As they were talking, Spears had caught up with the rearguard.
"C-Captain Aaron..." came in a static filled vox transmission at Drorit's vox caster.
She jumped when the powerful voice of the Space Marine came through the speaker. She was still searching for the vox-bead when Aaron grabbed it from her pack himself.
"Yes, Lord. Aaron here." he said.
"We are inside the Chimeras if you haven't spotted us already, do not blow the bridge until we can safely pass." said Ioras, vox was clearer now.
"Will do, my lord. We are waiting on the other side."
"Very good, Captain. Are the colonels with you?" asked Ioras.
"Yes, lord."
"Have them meet me at the trenches, we have some things to talk about." said Ioras.
"Yes, lord." said Aaron again before the vox went dead.
"That doesn't sound promising." commented Malik.
"I just hope they won't execute anyone else." said Aaron dropping his shoulder as he yield to the idea of a coming punishment.
"On that we agree." said Malik.
Imperial contingent had passed the Red River once again. But this time they were bound to the hive. Ioras and the commanding officers watched the destruction of the Ork bridge before they gathered to talk. A dozen demolition charges and improvised grenade implementations assisted by artillery and Leman Russ fire broke the Ork made bridge in several places. The entire bridge was too strong to be completely collapsed but most of the critical points were demolished and it would took substantial time to make the bridge safe to pass again.
"The bridge is critically damaged, sir. If the Orks were to pass through it without repairing it their forces would be decimated as the bridge collapsed under their weight." said chief engineer Abalafi.
The old men was a technical genius even though he was never a part of Cult Mechanicus, his junior, Semdek was behind him in his dirty overalls. Tanks that were demolished or in bad condition were hauled up by the support trojans. Semdek showed considerable skill managing the wounded machine convoy through the trenches.
"Any they will?" asked Colonel Ibrahim.
"Well, they are Orks, sir. I'm sure they're that dumb." said Abalafi.
"But you remember how quick they built the thing." pointed Aaron.
"Surely they will not amass such little-green-devils in such numbers for a while." said Abalafi.
"That is probably correct, however they are Orks, they are known to be unpredictable." said Aaron.
"Good work, chief, you're relieved, rest yourself before move again." said Ibrahim.
Abalafi snapped the Naphtali salute, a straight hand snapping at the shoulder, then left with his junior.
Ioras came beside them with powerful strides.
"We were attacked." he declared.
"By whom?" asked Aaron alarmed of an imminent attack.
"By the treacherous Spahkii, Captain." said Ioras.
"And what about this tomb? I don't see any riches with you. Not that I know if Space Marines loot riches." said Malik.
"No, Colonel. There were no riches in the warped tomb."
"What was in it that was so precious?"
"The Orks had a main base in the tomb, we leveled it." Ioras said a half-truth.
"And the Orks we destroyed?" asked Ibrahim curious.
"That was just a minor base. We spotted many Orks leaving the tomb and a major force moving towards the Red River as we left it."
"They're coming again." said Ibrahim as if it was a revelation.
The unstoppable nature of the Orks were widely known throughout the Imperium. Even worlds which was cleansed of Orks could burst into anarchy as Orks appear from forests and other remote parts of the planet.
"We are going to the hive aren't we? We did what we were told to do." said Aaron in a protesting voice.
"We are, Captain. All of us are. It is time we got some answers from the rulers of this miserable planet." said Ioras.
"And what about-" began Aaron but he was cut short by the Commissar Gus bursting towards them.
"My lord, I am so sorry. I have failed you in my duty. My life is yours." said the Commissar and bent to one knee before Ioras.
His aidaites were hurrying behind their commissar.
Ioras looked at the man "How did you failed, Commissar?" he asked.
"I have let those Spahkii out of sight and they bailed, I couldn't find them anywhere." he said with a shamed voice.
Ioras looked at the faces of the officers around him. They all understood what his intention was.
"Don't you worry, Commissar. We have dealt with the traitors, however Jeliha and his men escaped." he said.
"You did? Oh thank the Emperor." breathed Gus.
"Now rise on your feet." said Ioras and Gus jumped up.
"You have served me and I will have you keep the men in line until we reach the hive."
He turned to the gathering.
"We will rest your men and then we will move with the fastest pace possible. I want no stranglers, I want to complaints. Understood?" he asked.
"Yes, lord." said the gathered men.
Ioras left the guardsmen to talk among themselves. Julius caught up with him as he walked away.
"We don't need rest, why not leave them behind?" he asked.
"It's a long way back and we have no idea about the situation in the cluster."
"Patriarch and his forces were supposed to clear out the cluster." said Julius.
"Echnisians proved to be an elusive bunch, I can't trust my men to their decisions."
"There is something deeper about them, isn't it?" Julius asked.
Ioras looked at him as if in surprise "There is. I think the Spahkii get their orders from the Echnisians." he confessed.
"How so? Aren't they special forces?"
"They are, but this Patriarch has more power then he gives off. You heard back at the bunker about his tale. He can even command or bribe Lion Warriors into this secret dealings."
"True but stormtroopers would have a higher command chain, he can't just order them around like some household guard." said Julius.
"Not order them, bribe them perhaps." reflected Ioras.
Julius thought on this for a moment.
"You seem different since the tomb." said Ioras changing the subject.
"How so?"
"You are more outspoken, more confident."
"And why do you think is that?" asked Julius.
For a second and uneasy stare passed between them.
"It's obvious, you accomplished your duty by closing the gate. After the Idagenia incident you felt depressed, but now you redeemed yourself." said Ioras.
"What about the Chapter? Am I redeemed in your eyes or the Chaplain's?" asked Julius.
"You have done admirably, Julius. I can't discredit that, but you had control issues before that. If you move in this path you are sure to redeem yourself in the eyes of the chapter masters and more importantly, in the eyes of the Emperor." said Ioras.
Julius went into his thought and brought back by Ioras' speaking.
"Deciaci told me what you did inside the portal, endangering yourself to save him from the maleficent beings of the warp."
"I was just doing my duty."
"Sure you did, but it was still admirable."
Ioras put a hand on Julius' shoulderpad.
"You are in the right path, brother. I have every confidence that you will extinguish your inner daemons and rise as one of our chapter's greatest." he said.
"Thank you, lord. I strive for it." replied Julius.
Column moved back into the cluster, passing by the same broken down buildings complex as before.
"This feels odd." said Julius to himself.
"What feels odd?" asked Horatus.
"We are back at this place after all that happened, yet I feel not a bit relaxed. If was as if our problems just don't go away."
"Service of the Emperor ends only in death." quoted Horatus.
Julius didn't replied. He had an uneasiness he did not had before. Like things are worse than before.
In another part of the column was the Chimeras turned into mobile infirmary units. They hauled up the hundreds of wounded in their cramped holds.
Medics ride with the wounded and tried to keep those who can be saved alive. Junior Medic Zev was stitching up a leg wound as Aaron approached the slowly moving Chimera.
He jumped onto the back and grabbed the handles, he pulled himself into the hold.
"Throne, it sticks so bad." he thought but he kept his face from showing any discomfort. Soldiers would look to their officers and Aaron wanted to put on strong image to help those who need a strong figure to look up to.
He didn't said anything as he moved over the lying wounded. Most of them was in too much pain to see Aaron walking on top of them, one of them lifted a hand towards Aaron and he grabbed it in a strong hold as he passed. This pleased the wounded man and he went back to lying still, closing his eyes.
Zev was working under the dim roof light provided by the vehicle, he had a white face mask on and a bandage over his brow to keep his sweat from falling on people. Bandage was slick with sweat. He pulled on the metal cord and dipped the needle into the flesh again. Man he was stitching didn't even grunted, he was lying on his back without a motion. If Zev wouldn't know better he would assume the man was dead.
He saw a moving figure at the corner of his eye but kept his stitching.
"Why did you come here, sir?" he sneered the last word.
"Hello, Zev." said Aaron, trying to break some ice.
Zev didn't reply, waiting for an answer for his question.
"Drorit said you had the figures." said Aaron.
"You came just for that?" asked Zev unconvinced.
Aaron didn't reply right away "I also wanted to see the wounded for myself. I didn't catch a break from combat to see it for myself."
"Oh we are all fine and well here, Captain. Thank you." said Zev cynically, pulling the metal cord.
"You have the figures?" asked Aaron.
Zev produced a paper from inside his flak vest, dipping his hand behind his breast-plate and pulling a bloodied paper. He handed it to Aaron. Aaron felt disgusted by the blood on the paper but grabbed it without hesitation anyway.
He opened the paper and read through its content.
"Four hundred?" he said out loud. Then he realised that he let the wounded hear the figures and silenced himself.
"Excluding the wounded." said Zev as if that improved anything.
"What's the bottom number?" asked Aaron, not sure he wanted to hear it.
"Five hundred and sixty, out of combat." said Zev keeping his voice low.
"That's half our strength." reflected Aaron.
"Well I wasn't the one screaming about victory back there." said Zev.
Aaron was losing patience "Why do you have to be an snide himlit all the time." he snapped.
"Why?" Zev turned while still holding the metal wire in between two fingers. "Why? You know why." he said voice rising.
"Well you won't accept an apology, I said I was sorry before." said Aaron.
"Sorry? You killed her. What good is your sorry?" said Zev turning back to stitching. He dipped the needle violently and made another pass.
"I did not-" said Aaron but stopped talking, he was frustrated.
"You ordered her into a charge that was not necessary and Rani died because of you. My Rani!" he said knotting the stitch and snapping the wire with his scalpel.
He rose and turned to Aaron, scalpel still in hand.
They stood looking at each in an uneasy moment, Aaron glanced at the scalpel and then back at Zev. Zev realised he was holding a blade in hand and slipped it into it's place at his medicae belt.
"I did not killed her, I made an mistake."
"A mistake? You call that a mistake?" raged Zev.
"I know you hate me for losing her. But she was the best sergeant I had, I would never sent her to her death if I knew the result."
"She died because of you, of course I hate you." said Zev shouldering past him and walking at the edge of the hold.
"If you got what you need, then leave. You're disturbing their rest." said Zev nodding towards the wounded.
Silently, Aaron walked over to Zev and jumped down. As the Chimera was slowly leaving he looked back at Zev, who was glaring at him still.
"I did not killed her." he said as the vehicle distanced away.
Aaron knew that Zev would never forgive him for losing Sergeant Rani, his love. But he remembered the words of Colonel Ibrahim, "It is our duty, to die."
He felt that his resolution towards death was getting stronger. War made men grim.
Malik was riding atop one of their trucks and the truck came beside an infirmary Chimera.
"Chief." came a hoarse and inhumane voice.
Malik looked up and saw Alexis sitting in the other side of the truck. Alexis realised his stare and pointed towards the source of the sound with a strong finger. His arm didn't shook even on the bumping truck.
Malik turned his head to see a Balharethi guardsmen riding atop the Chimera, he was sitting dangerously close to the rolling tracks, but it seemed he did not cared for the hazard they possessed.
"Who are you?" Malik asked.
"Dhalid. Of the Hashim." men replied.
Malik felt disgusted by the wrinkled pink issue surrounding the men's neck, the pink scar tissue merged into a voice box logged inside his neck and under his chin.
"So you survived?" asked Malik.
Dhalid nodded.
"And Gazam?"
Dhalid tapped his shotgun butt twice onto the hull of the Chimera.
"He is alive?" Malik was surprised. He didn't even bothered looking into the fate of Gazam.
"Barely." replied Dhalid.
"I have to ask, did you run from combat?" asked Malik.
Dhalid didn't move a muscle.
Malik looked at him for a few seconds and then slid back into the hold of the truck, realising the conversation wasn't going anywhere.
"Such a charming fellow." he said towards Alexis.
Alexis kept reading his book, ignoring the conversation.
Malik looked around to see someone to talk to.
"All the people with speech problems ignore me." he said to Cafur.
Cafur glared at him.
"What?" prompted Malik.
"You stole my toba-cigar." Cafur said.
"No I didn't." replied Malik.
Cafur was cowardly and did not pushed the subject, instead he moved to another part of the truck leaving Malik alone.
"Camel's arse." swore Malik.
Only Erhan was left sitting close to him. Erhan delivered a successful para-bomb over the Ork lines back in the Offensive, while doing so he pissed himself.
He was a young man and his beard was growing misshaped. His skin was whiter than usual Balharethi burnt color but Malik realised that was the post combat psychology. Balharethi grew up in conflict but that did not mean that it prepared them for the horrible hell that is war.
Erhan was looking straight across himself to an empty seat and he had his hands clutched strongly over his gun barrel.
"So, Erhan." Malik said loudly.
Erhan startled and glanced at the Kavhim Lord anxiously.
"You are my new friend. Everyone else is too busy being a camel dung." Malik said putting his feet onto the seat across him.
Erhan didn't replied, not wanting to start the unpleasant conversation.
"You did well back there." said Malik, playing with his stubgun.
"I did?" said Erhan with a shaking voice.
"We will make you into a men yet." he released the slide of the stubgun and checked inside for defections.
"It was horrible." Erhan said.
Malik looked him sideways and slid the pistol back together.
"You were a Kabul kid, right?" asked Malik.
Erhan felt confused being asked about homeworld right now.
"I was." replied Erhan.
"Which one?"
"I can't tell. I was let out before I grew up."
"So your parents were criminals." said Malik.
Erhan looked unsure of what the Kavhim Lord's intentions were by saying that.
"Don't worry, there are no sins among the raiders. You're lucky the Crusaders never got their hands on you." said Malik.
"Crusaders? You met them?" asked Erhan.
Adi Balharethi Crusaders were made up from feverishly religious groups gathered from Shrine Hellaks. Shrine Hellaks were cities built around sacred ground or sacred objects. They attracted millions of angry desert people to itself with promises of power and illumination. Once they grew mad with their religious anger they start their crusade and attack nearby heathen cities. These cities are usually the Proilium cities built by the Imperium to collect the precious Proilium. A substance that can be made into several chemical products that work as fertilizers or fuel.
Imperium usually send in Ecclesiarchical agents into these Hellak cities and recruit this mad army of pilgrims into their own regiments. Then they embark on a crusade like no other and set out to conquer the stars.
Crusaders cause horrible destruction among the Raiders and the citizens on Balharra and no one wants to be close to them once their fever took hold.
"Sure did. They were keen on killing me and executing my men for heresy."
"How? How did you survive?" asked Erhan, forgetting his fear and listening intently.
"They chased us for a long time but we were faster. We kept them out of gun range and drove on. There was a storm brewing and in their usual arrogance they followed us into it."
"You drove into the storm?" asked Erhan with wide amazed eyes.
Sand storms of Balharra are known to tore flesh from bone and the tiny particles would fill into the lungs and prevent breathing.
"We sure did. Those frenzied bastards never stood a chance." said Malik grinning.
"How did you even managed to survive the storm?" asked Erhan listening intently.
"Well now, I can't say that. Secrets of the raiders, kid." said Malik leaning back and acting disinterested in Erhan.
"I am a raider, am I not?" asked Erhan.
Malik looked at him with the corner of his eye.
"Almost." he said and shifted his gaze away, dismissingly.
Erhan was taken aback but kept his objection to himself.
"What do I need to do more?" asked Erhan.
"Well." said Malik leaning forward "First you need to..."
Alexis cleared his throat and cut Malik's speech short.
Both men looked toward the Musan raider.
Alexis kept a finger between the pages to mark where he was and used his other hand to signal something.
"What does he say?" asked Erhan unable to read the mark language.
Malik grinned at him, "He says that all I have said is true."
"Oh." said Erhan.
"Don't listen to him kid, he is lying to you." said Cafur.
Malik glared at him but Cafur ignored him and kept talking.
"We drove on and the crusaders turned back, figuring we wasn't worth the gas." he said, now he was grinning at Malik.
"Why did you both had to go and spoil my fun." protested Malik swinging a hand up into the air.
"That's for stealing my cigar." said Cafur pleased with himself.
"I did not steal your gbered cigar." replied Malik.
"Camel crap, you did. I still could smell it on your breath." said Cafur.
"I smoked my share you dunghead."
"Yeah, before the battle you did. It wouldn't stick for that long."
"Oh, so now you are the expert on cigars?" asked Malik with a mocking tone.
Cafur didn't reply and the conversation ended abruptly.
"So? Where are we going?" asked Erhan feeling a bit better, leaving the thoughts of battle behind.
"See that big tower?" pointed Malik without looking.
Erhan shook his head rapidly in affirmative.
"There." Malik said.
The looming giant hive spire was before them. The returning convoy would traverse through the rubble strewn streets to reach her bosom. Echtesia Hive was as black as any other hive in the imperium. It's giant spire tower pierced into the clouds and rose even further. Clusters of cities, factories and habs surrounded the hab. Most of these were not ruins. Orks managed to penetrate into the outer cluster and wreak havoc with their horrible Orkish devices. Echtesia Palace Guard were the official protectors of the hive cluster and they routed the Ork marauders during the Red River Offensive. Now most of the cluster were in Imperial hands but as the convoy soon figured out once the Orks were killed Echtesia Guardsmen retreated back towards the inner cluster to form defensive positions at easy to hold choke points and urban areas.
Convoy spotted the first defenders after a day of marching.
"Halt! Who goes there!" shouted a guardsmen in black and dark purple outfit.
"Easy with the guns." said Liorit rising from Promised Home's hatch.
She looked quite confident despite staring directly at at least a dozen lasguns.
Echtesians felt the looming presence of the Leman Russ tank underneath her and felt their vulnerability. If the twin linked exterminator autocannons would came in firing, their sandbagged defenses would be ripped apart alongside them.
"Identify yourself." said Echnisian watchmen trying to act like he was in charge.
"Naphtali and um..." Liorit looked uncertain.
She looked downwards into the hatch spoke something with someone inside.
Her conversation was inaudible to the Echnisian and they were highly irritated by being left out.
"What are they...lancers? Lances? Are you sure?" talked Liorit to someone down under.
Then she rose back "We are led by Emperor's Lances chapter, they will be arriving shortly." she informed the Echnisian.
They waited for the Chimera carrying Ioras to arrive.
Echnisian were amazed by the build up of military at their doorstep.
Several battered Leman Russ tanks with a mass of infantry and support vehicles parked around.
"Keep some distance between those Chimeras, are you dumb? Do you want us to get clogged if Orks show up?" shouted Liorit at Chimera and Trojan drivers as they manoeuvred beside each other.
Ioras appeared from one of the Chimeras and walked rapidly towards the Echnisians.
Beside him was Horatus and Julius as his bodyguards, hefting massive bolters at their chests.
The display made Echnisian less happy. Not only heavily armed guardsmen but now Space Marines were at their doorstep.
Ioras simply stepped over their sandbagged blockade. Sandbags groaned under his weight but he passed off quickly and the bags were relieved.
"Which one of you is the men stopping our convoy?" asked Ioras, his voice not friendly.
Two Echnisians looked at the spokesmen, spokesmen started sweating heavily.
"I-I..."
"Why are we stopping, guardsmen?" asked Ioras.
"We-we check every..."
"Are you blind? Do we look like Orks? Who is your commanding officer."
"He w-was..."
Ioras pointed at a nearby crate "Sit, before you fall down." he ordered. Guardsmen obeyed immediately, all of his boasting command bleeding dry.
"Get me your commanding officer." Ioras said to another men.
Guardsmen hurried towards into a badly damaged building.
A minute later he came out with an overdecorated officer. His uniform had gold colored lining all over his shirt and trousers. He did not wore postals but instead wore shoes with long noses. They were clearly leather-made. He had a silver lined laspistol with wooden ornate grip. His belt had a large buckle that sported the Echtesia icon. There were several more Echtesian icons adorned on his chest and other places.
"Captain Felis Derek, at your service, lord." said the men snapping a salute as he walked towards Ioras.
"Captain, I need my men to get going. We wasted enough time already." said Ioras.
"Of course Lord, you were?" asked Captain Felis.
"Ioras of the Emperor's Spears. Now get us moving." growled Ioras.
Felis looked anxious "We need to check in with the hive command, lord." he said apologetically.
"Fine. Patch me through to Patriarch Feliso." said Ioras.
"I'm so sorry that we cannot make such a contact from our position." said Felis with a nervous smile.
"You have no direct access to your commander?" asked Ioras.
"We only have access to Palace Guard command, lord."
"Listen to me Captain. We are going into that building and you are patching me to someone with rank that is as high as you can patch into. Understood?"
"Yessir." said Felis.
Three marines followed Felis into the building with nervous stares from the Echnisians.
They came before a small pict-display.
"Palace Command." ordered Felis to his communications officer.
The men keyed in and turned some dials to get the right frequency, then put the communication to the pict-display.
Fuzzy picture of Agathe appeared in the display.
"Yes, Captain? What is it?" asked Agathe she was clearly irritated.
"Lady Agathe, I have Lord Ioras and his..." Captain Felis looked at the giant Space Marines behind Ioras, then back at the display "...entourage with me."
Agathe's eyes blazed with interest "Lord Ioras you say?"
Ioras pushed the Captain aside and came into the view "Lady Agathe, we need to..." began Ioras but Agathe cut him off.
"Ioras! It is so good to see you alive and well. I take it that the offensive succeeded?" she asked enthusiastically.
"It did, my lady. But we need to get moving and we need clearance to pass this...guardpost." said Ioras.
"Of course, you have all the clearance you need. Just come back at the hive immediately. You must tell me everything when you arrive." she said delighted.
"We will be on our way." said Ioras walking outside, Agathe was kept on the line but she severed the link when she realised the conversation was over.
Captain Felis ran behind Ioras and started signalling his men to open the barricaded gates. A mass of guardsmen wearing Naphtali and Balharethi colors moved past the defensive line and advanced towards the hive once more.
"So what happens when we get there?" asked Julius walking beside Ioras.
"Where?" asked Ioras, preoccupied with the passing transports.
"The hive."
"Oh." said Ioras as if he wasn't aware of the huge looming hive spire up ahead.
"We need to establish contact with Lord Galieo at once."
"What about everything that has happened till now, this wasn't a straight ride you know."
"I do, but things rarely are."
"So will Galieo would condone some sort of retribution?" asked Julius.
"That's Chaplain Galieo to you, marine." warned Ioras.
"My humble pardons, my lord." replied Julius with a tone that wasn't mocking but wasn't straight too.
Ioras looked at him quizzically.
"What retribution?"
"All these parties involved in this conspiracy, the House, Lion Warriors and those warped Spahkii. They all need to pay."
"Pay how?" asked Ioras unsure if Julius was asking for a purge on this Imperial planet.
"This planet it tainted, this system is tainted. We can't turn our eyes away."
"Sure we can't but what would you have us do, Julius? We are overstretched as it is."
"So are we to just report them to Inquisition and hope for the best?"
"We will consult the Chapter Master and the Chapter lords will decide the best course of action." said Ioras with a stern voice.
"Wait? We can't wait." said Julius with a feverish voice.
"Calm down, Julius. They will get what's coming to them." said Horatus.
Julius leaned on a piece of masonry to steady himself. His head was pounding with anger. He had never felt more angry in his life. As if the anger became a spike in his very head and pierced deep into the meat of his brain.
"Are you okay?" asked Horatus.
"I'm fine." he replied through gritted teeth.
"Move aside." ordered Ioras and Horatus slided sideways.
"What's happening Julius?" he asked.
"Nothing. I'm fine." lied Julius his head was still felt as if on fire.
"I have to check." said Ioras and his narthecium revealed a needle.
He moved the needle to Julius's neck but Julius swatted it aside.
"I don't need examination, I'm fine." said Julius forcing himself to stand upright.
"Clearly you are not." said Horatus.
"I said I am!" roared Julius walking towards Horatus threateningly.
Horatus replied by standing upright his muscles preparing for a fight.
Julius realised what he was doing and stopped awkwardly.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that." he apologized.
Horatus landed a fist on his chest "Anger is a holy feeling, but you better keep it for our enemies." he said.
Julius nodded, his head seemed to relax and the pain was fleeing.
"You will surrender yourself to through examination once we get back." said Ioras.
"Yes, lord." replied Julius.
A chimera slowed beside them and they saw Achagon riding on the gunner hatch.
"Convoy is moving forward." he said.
"Embark. We will sort things out later." ordered Ioras.
Three marines disappeared into the hold and the door slammed shut behind them. Chimera moved to join with the mass of troops and vehicles moving ahead.
Hilaa was lost in her Uplifting Primer, she had read it hundreds of times but she always loved to read the prayers when she found the time. It provided calm in a world otherwise crazy and random.
The hold of the Chimera held several others, they all were dirty from combat. Their cloths had mud and stains of blood on them.
Adamab Habas, her specialist gunner had his plasmagun on his lap. He had divided the gun in two and was trying to clean the ignition stud with a piece of cloth.
On the other row Gundal, the standard bearer of her squad had one feet planted on a crate as he leaned back into his seat comfortably.
"Lady." called Gundal.
"What?" replied Adamab. They called her lady because of his beardless face and baby-esque features. The luck was that he never got a facial injury and despite his life a baby face remained unmolested. Adamab wasn't sure if it was a gift or sign of some curse.
"Manners please, we are all civilized folk here." mocked Gundal.
"Yeah, right you are." Adamab mocked back.
"You know what?" asked Gundal playing with the stock of his lasgun.
"I don't." said Adamab not playing into the asking game.
"There was talking..." Gundal trailed off.
Adamab didn't interrupt as he expected to.
"...I heard the casualties were pretty bad." he said.
"I heard too but I won't believe any gossip before I hear it from Captain himself."
"And what will you do if he lies?"
"Then I will still believe in his word. He is a good men, he won't lie."
"People lie, Lady." said Gundal as a fact.
"Not Captain Aaron. He was always there for us."
"Sure he was. But would you be able to tell the truth if you were given the task of revealing the dead to the troops." asked Gundal.
"I'm no Captain, I never will be." replied Adamab.
"But what if you were? Would you have the balls to reveal the true numbers of the dead."
"Martyrs." corrected Hilaa with an angry voice.
"Sorry, martyrs sure." said Gundal.
"I don't have to answer to your mocking questions." said Adamab.
"I'm not mocking. I'm asking a serious question." said Gundal placing his lasgun to the seat next to him and retracting his risen feet from the crate.
Adamab glanced at him with a stare, "Sure you do."
It was Gundal's daily routine to make fun of Adamab, he used every trick in the book. He was one such who get pleasure by irritating others.
Adamab had grown mentally after starting to serve with Gundal. It was tiresome to have someone always picking at you for a passtime. But it also built character. It made you impervious to anyone else trying to harm you for real.
"Do you feel bad?" asked Adamab. There was always ways to fight back.
"About what?" asked Gundal, jumping in without even thinking.
"About the martyrs."
"Pssh, sure I don't. I am solid." Gundal replied with a dismissing expression.
Adamab raised his eyebrows with a disbelieving face.
"I think you do. I think you care more about those people than you let on. That's why you feel to vent by talking to me."
"I don't. I am a guardsmen of the Imperial guard. I saw death and war and..."
Adamab interrupted "And you are still human. It's okay to let these things pass through." said Adamab and locked the plasmagun's fragments together with a sliding motion.
He pressed the heat slider at the side of the gun and adjusted the gun to a safe configuration. Plasmagun hummed to life despite being kept in the safety parameters. It was too dangerous to turn it to full power in the closed space of the Chimera.
"There we go." said Adamab pleased with his maintenance.
"How do you even operate that thing?" asked Gundal looking at the humming weapon like it was an enemy.
"Just like any other gun really." replied Adamab.
"What if it explodes?"
"It won't. You have to keep it maintained and pray your litanies to ensure..."
"I ain't praying to no gun." said Gundal.
"Well I'm not the one with jammed lasguns all the time, eh?" said Adamab.
"They build it wrong." defended Gundal.
"Sure they do, maybe you should write to Fabricator General of Mars and inform him of his failings." mocked Adamab.
Before Gundal could reply the hatch to the Chimera opened and a figure mounted the vehicle.
"Captain Aaron." said Adamab with a cheerful voice. His face was lit with a smile.
Hearing Aaron's name being called out, Hilaa broke from her Uplifting Primer and saluted her Captain without rising.
"On ease." Aaron waved at the troopers to sit.
Chimera lurched forwards and the hatched closed shut behind Aaron. The daylight died out as inner yellowish lights took hold again.
Aaron moved towards Hilaa and stayed on his feet from the shaking Chimera by grabbing the roof handholds.
"How did it go?" asked Hilaa.
"Not good. Zev was being Zev as always."
"He lost someone, try to understand him." Hilaa said.
"We all lost someone." said Aaron with a rising voice. Hilaa's face distorted in a passing expression of sadness. Then he remembered the recent loss of Lieutenant Zeevka and what he meant for her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you remember." he apologized.
"I do remember. I will remember." she said.
Aaron nodded in recognition of her pain.
"He did his duty." he said.
"How many?" asked Hilaa trying to keep her mind away from Zeevka by focusing on the current events.
Aaron opened his mouth to answer but then realised the guardsmen that was listening intently to their conversation.
He glanced in their direction and kept his silence.
Gundal looked at Adamab with an expression that said "See?".
Aaron leaned close to Hilaa and whispered into her ear.
Adamab looked back at Gundal with a pleased expression saying "He did not lie, I win.".
"Can't be." gasped Hilaa hearing the figures of the wounded and the dead, she looked at Aaron's face as if trying to find the truth there.
Aaron nodded to confirm.
"They are with the Emperor now." she said
Aaron rose to leave but she grabbed her sleeve.
"How are you?" she asked realising that she never considered the effect of four hundred dead Naphtali on Aaron's concious.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." he replied and bid her to let go.
Her fingers eased their grip but she was not convinced that Aaron was fine. She looked on as the daylight filled the hold and Aaron descended off the ramp.
Hatch closed as she watched the bright light of the outside bleed out.
The convoy passed through the street unhindered. Every Echnisian guardsmen and officer stopped what they are doing to watch the mass of troops. Their battered and bruised looks made the fresh guardsmen of Echnisians uneasy. Many were murmuring as if they wasn't aware that a war is happening right at their doorstep.
Malik watched the troops in return, he had climbed atop ammo crates and able to see the whole view while travelling on the truck.
"They look like as if they see ghosts." he commented to himself.
Alexis rose beside him, he only needed to stand on the seats to reach the same height.
He signalled a question.
"I don't know, these guys look oblivious to the whole affair." Malik replied towards him. Alexis glanced at him to read his lips then turned back at the Echnisians.
They went for hours now and the ever present hive spire was close.
"We are here! See?" shouted Cafur pointing ahead.
Ahead was a huge double gated doors. There were strongpoints and Leman Russ positions in front of the gate. Gate itself was a behemoth, as high as a building and double as thick. No infantry would be able to scale this wall without aid.
Their coming was already known by the hive rulers and the giant defensive doors groaned open, welcoming them in.
In the front of the convoy was the Chimera which Ioras rode in.
He rose atop the hatch to see the affair through. Once the guardsmen saw the Space Marine riding atop the hatch, they felt relieved.
Cheers started to rose from the Echnisian guardsmen manning their sandbagged positions and bunkers.
Ioras' unconscious mind counted at least a hundred guardsmen in an instant. He also noted that their uniforms were barracks grade ironed and polished.
"These men did not saw any action in their entire service." he said to himself.
"I knew it. They're just glory boys. Guardsmen are weak." came in Horatus' vox.
"Shut it, Horatus. I want to quarrel with the inhabitants." Ioras warned.
"Why are they cheering?" asked Julius.
Ioras did not reply not knowing the answer himself. He looked around obliviously.
The gates were completely open and he was assaulted by a deafening noise of shouting.
"What is happening?" voxed Horatus alongside a bolter round clicking into chamber.
Ioras was lost at words. Before him was an empty road leading directly to the bowels of the hive spire. Alongside the road were thousands of cheering and shouting civilians.
"There is our welcoming committee." said Julius seeing the crowd from the firing slits of the Chimera.
Horatus moved from slit to slit in a want to see the crowd for himself, part of him was not convinced that this is a friendly ruckus.
"I can't see. Damn these guardsmen vehicles and their puny design." he cursed.
Julius moved sideways to let him use his firing port.
"Emperor's boots!" shouted Horatus.
Civilian mass being cordoned and contained by hundreds of Adeptus Arbites judges. Heavily armed judges stand watch before the cheering crowd, armed with shotguns and autoguns. There were no misfits who try to break the cordon, and judges in white helmets stood vigilant for anything.
"What are they celebrating?" asked Horatus puzzled.
"Us?" asked Julius more to prompt Horatus to think for himself the obvious answer.
"And why is that?"
"They must have heard about our victory over the Orks." said Julius.
Horatus looked at him unconvinced.
"We were merely doing our duty." he answered.
They returned to the visor slits and watched the mass of people.
"Look at them." said Julius.
"Yes, so many of them." replied Horatus.
"Not that, they are cheering sincerely."
"So? You said they are celebrating our victory."
"They look oblivious to the fact that there is war on their own planet." pointed Julius.
Horatus looked closely at the individual people, he squinted his eyes to focus.
"You're right. They aren't tired or malnourished. They look plumb as any well fed person."
"It is amazing that the insides of the walls are spared the horror of the Orks, while the clusters are in ruins."
"They must have let the Orks run rampant." said Achagon.
"Those cowards, they left the Emperor's lands for the Orks." growled Horatus.
"It seems." concluded Julius lost in his own thoughts.
Alexis was watching passively as Malik stood upright and waved a heroic hand at the screaming mass of civilians.
"We are heroes Alexis. I said this planet would pay off." said Malik.
"You hated this planet." signalled Alexis.
"Nonsense. I wonder if we get extra for this." said Malik.
"Do we-do we get...you know." asked Cafur shyly.
"Women?"
"Yeah."
"What do I look like to you? Echnisian pimp?" Malik yelled without looking at him.
"I mean...I thought."
"Don't. Just flow with the sands." he concluded still waving his hand, trying to look like a poster hero.
"Damn, I could get used to this." he said smiling.
The battered Naphtali guardsmen already lost themselves among this welcome. Some forgot the horror they went through while others just walked without looking up.
"C-c-c-captain." said Drorit nervously.
Aaron came beside her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Relax, they are just celebrating." he assured her.
"So-so m-many." she stuttered.
Beside them Abe was completely drunk with euphoria. He was young and he felt like a legendary hero as thousand of people cheered for him.
Mosse wasn't so impressed. His face stood the same as ever. He looked up at the sea of faces and tried to see if something caught his eye.
"Mosse, we did it. We did it." shouted Abe grabbed a part of his shirt and wrinkling it in a fever.
Mosse saved his shirt from Abe's grip and pulled it to make the wrinkles go away.
"I can see." he said.
"This is amazing. They are celebrating our victory." said Abe almost jumping in place.
"I hope they are celebrating what you are celebrating. Otherwise this is going to take short." said Mosse.
"Stop being a downer all the time. We made it back, we won. Celebrate." he said eyeing for young ladies he fancies.
Mosse's mood did not change, he kept being silent and watched the civilians.
Ioras saw a stand built to obstruct their path. Atop it was several individuals which were overdecorated. Ioras' enhanced eye-sight spotted Agathe. She stood in the military uniform Ioras saw her in before. To her right was an older figure. Ioras only saw the Patriarch on a grainy pict-screen but deducted that this men was him. Patriarch wore an aristocratic shirt filled with skull decorations and eagle wings sprouted from his belt to the sides. He also wore a heavy cape with adornments etched along the sides. The golden colors blended with his dark purple, Echinisian style.
On the other side of Patriarch Alfonzo was his son, Eduardo. Ioras bid the driver to halt once they reached close enough. Then Chimeras hatch opened and slammed onto the ground. Space Marines disembarked quickly bolters at the ready. The crowd went wild taking the descending of the Space Marines as a show, screamin and shouting. Several of the audience members tried to reach over the Arbites cordon but got put down by baton strikes and good old police fists.
"Civilians in the proximity." said Iulius needlessly.
"Safeties on from this point on." said Ioras.
Horatus mumbled incohesive lines as he flicked the safety switch of his bolter.
"And no fatalities among the humans. Especially you Horatus." said Ioras looking at the marine.
Horatus said something under his breath.
"What was that?" asked Ioras with a threatening voice.
"Yes, my lord." replied Horatus robotically.
They moved towards the raised stand. It was clearly made to look imposing. Patriarch himself was atop the higher point and looked down on the Space Marines.
As the Space Marines ascended the steps, Naphtali guardsmen formed lines, behind them came the Balharethi and the artillery formations. Infirmary units was hurriedly taken away from the convoy and placed in Officio Medicae buildings. The wounded were tended to but the main aim of this action was to keep the horrible reality of the war away from the public view. Heroic and glorious propaganda of the Imperium did not need imagery of horribly mutilated guardsmen.
As Ioras reached atop the steps the booming voice of Patriarch Alfonzo rose from a hundred loud speakers.
"Great and honored, Space Marines. I. Patriarch Alfonzo Philip of Echnisia, welcome you to our glorious hive."
He waited for Ioras to reply. A servo-skull fitted with a vox-recorder flowed at Ioras side, following beside him.
Ioras felt passing through an invisible energy shield and his skin felt irritated.
He stood before the Patriarch and removed his helmet. Grabbing the helmet in one hand from the side, he grabbed the servo-skull floating around him.
Servo-skull tried to get away, it's hovering engines whining. It was impossible to break free of the Astartes' strong grip and it gave up after a second.
Ioras kept the skull close to his head as he spoke to it.
"We have arrived from Red River, Lord Alfonzo. And the Ork base lies in ruin." he said then let go off the skull. It hovered making irritated noises from it's hover engine.
Entourage of the Patriarch was composed of many aristocrats both ladies and gentlemen. Then looked at each other puzzled from this odd behaviour on the part of the marine.
A huge cheer rose accompanying Ioras' declaration.
"You have served the Emperor well, Lord Marine. Now I ask of you to accept my humble invitation to House Echnisia and a celebration of your legendary victory."
Ioras turned to look at the rest of the Spears "We accept." he said.
Alfonzo knew that Ioras had no choice but to accept his offer, otherwise the marines would look as if they did not abided the civil laws of the hive and thus be branded radicals against the Imperial rule. Within the hive, all must obeyed the Patriarch. The middle spire civilians lived a somewhat normal lived working in their daily jobs and did not knew about the larger mechanics of the Imperium. Most never even saw a live Space Marine before until now. They were taught that the Angels of Death are protectors and the heroic warriors led by the Emperor himself. They knew nothing of chaos and the alien menace that plagued the galaxy except the casual propaganda they learn in scholams.
Seeing live Space Marines in full battle gear was something to celebrate all together. And moreover they had brought a victory to Hive Echtesia. The civilians had no idea about the horrible conditions outside the hive walls but they were told that a great victory was won and they had to celebrate.
"People of Echtesia." adressed Patriarch his voice booming all around the giant road.
"You are to celebrate our great victory and each of you will be given extra rations and a ten hour work-free time." declared Patriarch.
Crowd went wild, Arbites fought back and batoned the lot of the rioters who tried to get past the cordon to reach the road.
"Shall we?" asked Patriarch leading the marines into a luxurious ground car.
Ioras turned to Iulius "Follow us in the Chimera." he said.
Iulius nodded and led the marines back down the steps and into the armoured vehicle.
"Horatus, Julius, with me." ordered Ioras and they followed the Patriarch towards the ground car.
It looked like a giant train wagon five times the size of a Chimera and once they got inside the amazing interior of the ground car astonished all the marines. It was comfortable beyond anything they were accustomed to.
"Sit, please." prompted a servant.
Horatus sat on a seating and his armoured buttocks immediately sank into the soft cushion, crushing it. They were served refreshments a second later.
Seeing the fate of the cushion Julius decided to stay afoot beside the door. His feet were fatigued beyond any normal human means. They were walking and fighting for days and he started to get fatigued. He only grabbed sleep a few hours and cycled his sleep via his biological enhancements. But there was a limit to everything. He promised himself to sit and refresh his stamina once they are inside the hive.
"Lord...Ioras was it?" asked Patriarch Alfonzo as three servants hurried to took off his giant cape that draped all over the floor.
"That is correct." replied Ioras coldly.
He wasn't going to let this simple men overrule them simple because of his station. He served the Emperor first and servants of Him second.
"You may refer to me as Alfonzo." said Patriarch.
Ioras did not reply but moved towards the big windows that covered much of the frontal walls. He looked outside and saw that they were moving towards the hive at speed. Two dozen Arbites bikers and armoured cars accompanied them along the empty road. Road itself was a gigantic one. Everything in the Imperium was oversized to accommodate the ever marching armies.
The room was so large that despite the presence of the fully armoured Space Marines and the dozen servants, it did not felt cramped. It was easy to forget that this was a vehicle and not a building.
Ioras tapped the glass with a soft movement "Armoured glass." he pointed.
"You need all the security you can get, don't you think?" said Alfonzo sitting on a wide adorned seat. It had a long back that resembled a throne and comfortable oversized cushions on the sides.
Two servants and a servo-skull came beside Patriarch, waiting for any command that he might give.
"We are shielded." said Ioras turning towards the Patriarch and accepting a thin glass filled with a blood red liquid from a servant.
Alfonzo raised an eyebrow "I'm impressed for you to pick up such things. Most people are oblivious to the everyday effects around them."
"We are Space Marines, we are bred for war. We are not 'most people'." said Ioras.
"Of course you aren't. I was merely conveying an observation." apologized Patriarch.
"As do I." said Ioras taking a sip.
It was an alcoholic beverage that Ioras did not recognized. It sure was expensive because it left an acrid taste on the tongue and tried to numbed it. Ioras' enhanced physiology broke down the toxic alcohol immediately neutralizing it before was sucked into the blood stream. Within seconds of digestion the beverage was equal to water in levels of toxicity.
"Tasteful is it not?" asked Alfonzo taking a small sip.
"It is exquisite, however we Astartes are denied the basic pleasures of a human body. I would not have the same taste as you would." Ioras said.
"That is a pity. You have sacrificed much to serve the Emperor."
"We all do in our own ways, Patriarch."
"Please, call me Alfonzo. I know you Space Marines dislike titles. Lion Warriors were quite disrespectful towards each other despite their rankings." Alfonzo said.
"Not all Space Marines are Lion Warriors, Alfonzo. We are the Emperor's Spears. We follow the tenets of the Codex Astartes and obey our Lords in all things." Ioras said.
"Maybe that is why you were able to end this plague of Orks where Lion Warriors had failed." flattered Alfonzo.
Ioras saw through this. He knew that a person who is able to become Patriarch of any noble house would be an expert in social and psychological expertise required for such a position. It wasn't easy to gain such a powerful title within the Imperium and it was harder to keep it. A patriarch was a more civil title than a governor or magos. Patriarch or matriarchs would gain their position not by being elevated within the ranks of an Imperial organization but by carving it out with blood and sweat from the cogs of the Imperium. And what bloody cogs they were.
Usually Space Marines were detached from the human workings of the Imperium. Where an Imperial citizen never see a live Space Marine in peace time, the case would be the same for the Space Marine. He would never see the daily lives of the civilians. He would never see an Administratum clerk rowing through endless mountains of requisition forms day after day. What he would see would usually be composed off passing moments within their eternal war and glimpses of lives they see in a war torn city. Their training and their duty to the chapter would keep them away from this so alien lifestyle of the common Imperial men and women.
However this wasn't the case for Ioras. He had served the chapter in many ways and saw the workings of the Imperium at work. Sometimes Space Marines were given over to other organizations as decided by treaties between the parties. Chapter would get specific services from the said organization and the organization in turn would get the protection of the Space Marines of that Chapter. Ioras had served in Navis Nobilite that provided the Spears with navigators and learned much during his time with the organization. It was a completely different thing to move away from his own life and plunge into this world of social interaction. Human aspects of Imperium did not followed a meritocratic rule or battle commands but instead they were filled with endless social speeches and orders coming down on them from people who rose up simply because they made favours to other powerful people. It was a complex mess of things but it somehow worked.
"Lion Warriors did their best. But we were blessed by the Emperor to be the ones to end this menace." said Ioras feigning ignorance to the planned grinding down of Naphtali forces before Spears came about.
He still did not revealed the Ork forces following in their heels to the Patriarch. First he would judge this man and then decide if this information was worth revealing to him.
"Bless them and bless you for your efforts." said Alfonzo raising a toast.
Ioras accompanied the toast, following in his example Horatus and Julius did likewise.
Ioras had a personal dislike for the social interactions of common men. Biological bodies he could understand, it was an honest thing to operate. A body would not lie to you. But a human would certainly will. And Ioras wanted this charade of pleasantries to end as quickly as possible.
"Lord Alfonzo, we wish to return back to our Lords as soon as possible." he said.
"Unacceptable." said the Patriarch frowning.
Moving servants froze in their place as they felt the interaction grew cold.
Ioras looked at the Patriarch trying to root out his intention but failed.
Alfonzo stood up and still holding his glass, moved towards Ioras in slow steps.
"We cannot let the heroes of Echnisia to escape so early. Welcoming parade was merely the beginning. There is to be an award ceremony and a victory ball following after it."
"We really need to..." began Ioras but Alfonzo cut him off.
"You would clearly not disrespect us by leaving." said Alfonzo with a half smile.
Ioras stood there looking at the old Patriarch. He needed to contact Galieo and decide whether to help out Echisians with the remaining Orks or move ahead. He could reject the Patriach but he needed a way of communicating with Golema Doxia and he doubted that Lion Warriors would be helpful after everything that has happened.
They were thin on allies on this wretched world of lies and they needed every one they can get.
"We will accept your offer in one condition." he said.
Alfonzo lifted an eyebrow.
"You need to provide us with a clear and untapped communication to our ship so that we might report to our Lord."
"You shall have it and then you will join our celebration as heroes." said Alfonzo in a serious but friendly manner.
Ioras nodded in agreeance.
The giant ground car came to a halt and a massive elevator started to carry them upwards.
Alfonzo had went back to his seat and was talking with his servants which provided him with data slates. Ruling a planet demanded his ever required attention. A servitor with a typewriter and a short range communicator came beside him. It's arms were curved so that it could type into a typewriter keyboard that was embedded in it's chest. There was a box logged on his back and there were several antennas coming out of it. As the Patriarch gave his commands, the servitor typed into the keyboard and with an electronic clicking sound broadcast the orders to places around the hive.
Julius still stood on his feet like a statue. He had the tiny fragile wine glass in his armoured grip. He looked silly standing in such a luxurious place, all armoured and armed.
He felt silly. "What am I doing here?" he thought to himself and scraped his armoured boot onto the soft dark red carpet that was covering the floor.
He realised that his dirty books had dirtied the ever clean carpet and he felt guilty. Whoever was cleaning these carpets would have extra work to do because of them. He looked at a nearby servant with these thoughts in mind but the man mistook it for a call. He came to Julius' side almost running and waited for an order.
Julius was about to say "Sorry for the carpet." but then he realise what kind of an odd remark that is and thought of something else to say.
"When are we to arrive?"
Men looked at the chrono on his wrist and said they were due in about an hour.
"The elevator takes an hour to rise?" asked Julius astonished.
"Spire is huge, my lord." said the servant.
"Sure it is. But an hour." said Julius to himself.
"Anything else, lord?" asked the servant.
"As you were." replied Julius without realising that he was using a military speech.
Servant looked at him with an odd expression then retreated with a bow.
Julius cursed without mouthing it, he hated these human relations. Chapter serfs understood the Space Marines and acted in accordance. Most of them were failed Space Marine candidates and they were partially trained, they were disciplined to the core. These common aristocratic servants were merely poor people given a duty to hold a tray. Some were more trained and qualified but the brunt of them were poor people in well servant dressings.
A servitor with an embedded chest tray came beside him and refilled his drink. He had a drink pouring hose instead of a hand and carried the container on his hips.
"To your health and taste, lord." he said without a spark of emotion. It was supposed to be a blessing but instead the emotionless voice made it sound like a horrible thing a murderer would say to his victim before slitting her throat.
Julius put the glass on a pedestal and left it there. He walked towards Horatus and brushed aside a floating servo-skull from his path.
"This place makes me feel alienated." he said.
"Aliens eh? They you need purging, brother." said Horatus gulping down the contents of the glass and waiting for another one.
Julius looked at the crushed cushion under Horatus' armoured ass.
"You sure purged that cushion." he said.
"You are as funny as Galieo's face." said Horatus.
"It was an observation." said Julius.
The same servitor that poured Julius a drink came and replenished Horatus' glass. Then he turned to Julius.
"Do you wish for a new glass, lord?" he asked saying every word like it was sentence in its own right.
Julius looked at him and waited for it to leave. Servitor did not felt unease from Julius stare and stood his ground looking up at him.
"Go away." Julius finally said when he realised it would not leave.
"Yes, lord." replied servitor and left.
"You sure are a people person. Dead people that is." said Horatus.
"Servitors aren't dead." corrected Julius.
"Looks dead to me." replied Horatus not caring for the difference one bit.
"At least they are not machine people." he added a second later.
"You contempt for other Imperial organizations is becoming casual to me." said Julius.
"Imperial? They hardly deserve the title. They worship a machine god or something." said Horatus.
"We don't worship a god, either." said Julius.
"Curses take your tongue, Emperor is clearly a god." Horatus got angry and almost spilled his drink.
"He is a great men. Throughout history great men helped more to mankind than any god."
"You blaspheme." said Horatus.
"And you are an Ecclesiarch all of a sudden?"
"I believe." replied Horatus fixing a gaze at Julius standing above him.
"So do I, just not at the lies of mere men." Julius replied sneering.
Horatus looked immensely angry but kept himself sitting, afraid of a reprimand from Ioras if he made a scene here.
"Let's see what Lord Galieo has to say after we get back." he threatened.
"Fine by me. I know who he would side with." said Julius.
Thankfully the vehicle was huge and their conversation did not found any unwanted ears in the busy room. The servants and the aids of the Patriarch had filled half the room and were working on various things from serving drinks to conveying their Lord's orders into communication devices. Patriarch and his son was also preoccupied with a dozen servants chattering and busying themselves with their devices.
Julius scoured the servants and realised that Horatus was still angry at him.
"Relax, I'm just toying with your mind." he said smiling.
"I'm going to toy with your face using my fist once we get back on Golema." Horatus replied.
Julius left him to himself and stalked off into a nearby window.
From the elevator's shaft he could see glimpses of the interior of the hive. There were rows of buildings built atop one another. Once they moved up a level a new city started atop the previous one. Spire itself was able to house billions this way.
Ioras was also watching the same display but it was a sight he was familiar to. He had served and fought within hive spires and it did not amazed him like it did Julius. At the corner of his eye he realised someone was approaching and mistook it for yet another servitor checking to see if his drink needs a refill.
Instead it was Agathe, she still wore the same military uniform that she wore when the Spears had arrived on Echnisia.
"Long time." she said coming close and pretending to look out the window.
"Lady Agathe." acknowledges Ioras.
"It is glad to see you again." said Agathe.
"Same here, my lady." Ioras replied.
"You and your men have accomplished much on Echinisia, we are grateful."
"Merely the Emperor's work."
"I never thought someone would have endanger themselves so much for a planet they only arrived."
"We are Astartes, we fight His wars without needing a reason."
"Not all are as devout as your are I assume." she said looking at him with her blue shining eyes.
Ioras returned the look, trying to discern a secret meaning behind her words.
"It is not for me to judge other Chapters. I am merely a servant of my own." Ioras replied as neutrally as he can.
"Why did you even come on Echinisia in the first place?" she asked.
"Our Chapter Master ordered us to help Echnisia, so we answered the call." he replied in a half-truth.
Agathe realised he would not give any secrets to her.
"You are very different from all the men around here." she said awkwardly.
Ioras was confused as to what that exactly meant.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand." he said.
"You would not know, but the people I live with is just bickering, self-serving liars all. Yet you come here and endanger your own life for others." she said.
"So do you, serving in the guard."
She waved a dismissing hand "I am merely an officer. By brother never even saw real combat in his entire life. We are more like puppets than actual Guardsmen."
"To all of us a duty of our own falls."
"It is true. My men had fought valiantly in the defense of the hive."
"And the Guard regiments fought valiantly with us in the offensive." Ioras added.
She looked at him again. "They were failing before you arrived, you somehow forged them into a fighting force."
Ioras looked at her eyes and thought of the horrible truths Spears had discovered. He spared her the truth that the Lion Warriors and possibly her father orchestrated the demise of Emperor's own soldiers and letting the Orks run rampant within the cluster.
"They needed a nudge, that's all."
She placed her hand on the aquila on his chestplate and brushed over it. When she pulled her hand it was black with dust.
"Excuse my dirtiness, my lady. We had not grabbed a chance to polish our armour." he apologized.
She looked at the black stain on her hand and smiled "Don't worry. It's quite pleasing to see you in your dirty armour."
A servitor came by and she let it clean her palm with a towel.
"Why so?" asked Ioras.
"It reminds me that the Imperium is not all corrupt. And there still are people fighting for it."
"I am honored, my lady." said Ioras bowing slightly.
She took the chance and placed a hand on his now lowered cheek.
Ioras irked under the soft touch, he had fought against monsters from beyond the veil, he had decapitated an Ork nob in single combat, yet this simple caring caress made him flinch. It was a different sensation he had not had in his lifetime. He waited for her to pull away her hand before rising again. He was dumbstruck when he finally rose.
"You will be attending the ball." she said in an expecting tone.
"Yes, we will." said Ioras composing himself.
"But first we need to inform our Lord on our success." he said.
"I'm sure he would be pleased." she said.
The elevator came to a clanking halt and they had arrived. Top of the spire. House of Echnisia.