The rotations this cycle were especially brutal, Markus noted, as his 16th rotation had landed him and his squad on Formanton IV, a backwater planet just south of the Calixis Sector and on the edge of the Eye of Terror itself.
Formanton IV was a planet that sustained consistent incursions from Chaos forces, both because of its closeness to the Eye, and also, especially after the fall of Cadia, it was the key artery between the Calixis Sector and the ongoing Tyranic Invasions happening in the Segmentum Pacificus. The amount of traffic made this sector of real-space a prime target for raiding parties.
To Markus however, all of the tactics and grand strategy the Lord Regent had formulated didn't mean much… To him and his squad all that meant was they, and by extension around a quarter of the 3rd Battle Company of the Imperial Fists, alongside 10 battalions of Cadian Shock Troops, were responsible for maintaining the defense of this outpost for the duration of this rotation.
Formanton IV wasn't the most pleasant planet to be stationed, mostly due to the planet's high humidity making many of their climate control gear inside their Mark X Power Armor malfunction, and need constant maintenance to maintain optimal operations. Not that it much mattered to Markus, the air on Formanton IV was so slate that even with the advanced climate controls that the Power Armor provided, he swore to his Battle Brothers and Sisters in his squad that it didn't even make a difference, to which he received a firm reprimand every time.
The leader of the forces on Formanton IV, Sister Jullia, being the one who often issues said reprimands. To Markus, Sister Jullia is a hardass, so set in her ways that you'd be mistaken for thinking that it was even a conversation when you spoke with her, she was a veteran of the 13th Black Crusade, and she damn well reminded you every second that she was. Do not be mistaken, he trusted her with his life, she was his Battle-Sister and commanding officer after all, but it didn't make her not a hardass. An understandable hardass, he joked.
"Imperial Fist, gather your squad and a Repulsor post haste. There is another incursion, we are being deployed." Sister Jullia said over the vox-relay. Which caused everyone in the barracks, including Markus, to scramble to put their Power Armor on and report to their commanding officer. After roughly 30 minutes of assembly and another 10 of meeting up with his squad, they met Sister Jullia with a Repulsor at the front gate to their compound.
"Ma'am, the orbital scanners detected an Escort class ship arrived in orbit approximately 2 hours ago. It doesn't match any of our existing transport vessels on record. It's probably another raiding party." One of the guardsmen who had been standing next to Sister Juilla said while handing her a dataslate. He appeared to have a more intricate uniform than the others Markus had spotted around the area; he was an officer in their ranks, he guessed.
"Excellent work, tell your men to take defense fortifications. Do we have an idea of their entry point?" Jullia asked the guardsman, a seriousness in her voice underscoring the interaction.
"Yes ma'am" the guardsmen responded pointing to the dataslate in her hands. "According to the calculations of its position in orbit, the predicted landing area is here…" The guardsmens said.
"COMMANDER!" another guardsman ran over quickly.
"Palwolski, what is it? Me and Lady Jullia are trying to plan our defense…" The commander responded, both annoyance and surprise filled his voice, clearly the intrusion startled him.
"The scanner detect drop pods have been fired from the vessel. ETA, 15 minutes sir!" The guardsman stated breathlessly, the guard commander paused for a moment trying to process the information before Sister Jullia interrupted.
"Commander, order your men to fire the Anti-Aircraft batteries at any craft entering the LZ, and order your men to fire on the predicted landing area, plus or minus 100 meters on our signal. I will update you over vox if we need more fire support." Jullia said with the gruff she was known for.
"By your command Lady Jullia" the officer responded quickly before making himself scarce.
"Alpha team, Beta team, Gamma team, we move to intercept and set up a line of control near the LZ. Myself and the rest of our forces will remain at Command Post Bravo to support." Sister Jullia barked over the vox relay.
"YES MA'AM!" Every marines voice was heard over the vox channel before Markus switched his communicator to his squad's frequency.
"Brother Tristan, have you received the location data?" Markus asked, Brother Tristan was usually entrusted with such information, he was better at planning than himself, he would admit, as his squad piled into the Repulsor.
"Affirmative, transmitting now…" A large chunk of data populated Markus' HUD, informing him and his squad where they needed to be. They set off as Markus manned the topside Gatling Cannon, he could hear the sounds of Hydra Flak Tanks in the distance, it's started…
As they approached the LZ, they heard the distinct crack of a Basilisk Artillery platform firing a shell, then the shrill sound of the shell landing on its mark.
"Brother Markus, we have arrived at the designated location from Sister Jullia" Brother Tristan said over the vox channel.
"Everyone disembark, Brother Lennox and Sister Europa, you will remain with the Repulsor, we may need the assistance."
"A-firm Brother Markus" Lennox replied.
"Copy" Sister Europa responded coldly, she never really liked him being in command of their squad to begin with, he guessed.
"Sister Jullia, this is Beta team, we have arrived at the designated location, awaiting further orders" Markus called out over the vox relay.
"Beta Team, hold position and begin establishing a line of control. We detected a pod landed near your location, be on alert."
"Copy, Sister Jullia" Markus replied before quickly switching vox channels.
"We are made to hold position, Sister Jullia detected a pod near our location. Sister Leane and Brother Tristan, with me." Markus ordered, as they took formation around the Repulsor, using it alongside any makeshift cover they could find.
He spotted a being beginning to crest the hill in front of them… He could barely make out the silhouette through his optical visor.
"CHAOS TERMINATOR!" Sister Leane shouted.
"Weapons Free, OPEN FIRE!" Markus ordered, as Bolter fire lit up the area, the figure seemingly disappearing into the fog in front of them.
"Leane report! Any visual?" Markus ordered, as his training began to kick in. Until…
All of them were then forced to the ground by a seemingly invisible force. Their bodies felt compelled to halt their aggression…
And submit…
"Lennox… do you have… a visual?…" He struggled to call out.
"I do Markus, already on it" Lennox quickly responded. The main Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon of the Repulsor turned and let out several hundred rounds into the fog.
A black mass moved through the fog and jumped on top of the front of the Repulsor, cleaving through the barrel with its lightning claw.
Thankfully the distraction seemingly broke whatever spell the marines were under momentarily, leaving Markus and the other marines to regain their freedom.
As quickly as Markus had grabbed his Bolter and turned around, he was met with the large black suit of Terminator armor standing directly in front of him. It TOWERED over him, even in full armor. With speed and dexterity, the likes of which Markus had never seen, the creature swung the mace it was holding. Knocking the Bolter from Markus' grasp with the first swing, and knocking Markus onto his back with the second, cracking his armor, sending his helmet flying, and his consciousness spiraling.
Several bolter rounds flew into the Chaos Terminator, all seemingly bouncing off its robust shell.
Quickly the rest of his companions were dispatched as swiftly as he had been, only then was Markus able to get a good look at what exactly had been tearing them apart.
The being in the Terminator armor appeared to have bleach white hair, pale white skin, and dark purple irises… which were now staring directly back at him. The look in those eyes… He had never encountered this before, this primal fear he had looking into the eyes of whatever being piloted that suit of Terminator armor… before it moved over to him. His initial judgment that it towered over him was incorrect, this creature DWARFED him in size, speed, strength and every metric he could even conceivable measure. What surprised him was two things; One was that he was not dead yet. And two, was that it began to speak to him.
"Marine, Where is your commanding officer?" The creature said in a strong, commanding voice. The purple irises seemingly glowing as it issued the order. His body once again felt compelled to act subservient.
"I will… never yield… to you… The Emperor… the throne… PROTECTS ME!" Markus shouted, his training and Sister Jullia's teaching giving him the strength to resist as best he could.
"Marine, do you who you defy?" The creature asked, it didn't matter to Markus, in his eyes they were a heretic that deserved to be brutally annihilated.
"I care… not… for who you ar…" Markus' knees gave out, causing him to fall face first into the deep mud.
"Marine, you stand before Hathor Lupercal, Primarch of the Luna Wolves, Former Warmaster of the Imperium of Man, and the right hand of the Emperor himself. Where is… your… COMMANDING OFFICER!" His eyes went wide… The Arch Traitor had returned… he'd heard stories during his initiation about the Heresy, but never thought he would be in the presence of the greatest traitor in the history of the Imperium. But, even with the knowledge that likely he, and the rest of his squad would perish this day, all Markus had to say to the Arch Traitor herself was one phrase.
Go to hell… heretic…