Blood Ravens

“Thirty seconds, brothers!” Sergeant Vipus announced, checking through his

wargear for the final time. His squad did the same, making sure that their wargear was
fully functioning. Vipus looked out of the Thunderhawk, the landscape passing by as
they headed for Victory Bay. The Thunderhawk touched down, and the Blood Ravens
stood as one, and they stormed out of the gunship.

They were met with lasfire, but the Blood Ravens disregarded them and got clear
as the Thunderhawk lifted back into the air. They were persistent, Vipus thought as he
was continuously hit by several las bolts, barely scratching at the ceramite surface of his
armor. He squinted and found the irritating shooter atop the walls a kilometer away.
Vipus relayed the sniper’s position to Telion, the Scout Sergeant. A moment later, and
the Guardsmen fell off, clutching at the gaping hole in his throat.

Vipus saluted Captain Thule, who nodded in return. The two turned to survey the
wall where the Imperial Guard had taken cover in. Avitus and his Devastator squad were
hurling munitions and heavy fire towards the gate, so that the Blood Ravens may assault
the city proper. Other insertion attempts such as drop pods had been nullified by the
massive amount of anti-air fire that that the Guardsmen had mustered. Assault by
ground was the only way.

Avitus hefted the missile launcher and fired off another trio of missiles towards
the gate. The krak missiles detonated, and this time, the gate fell.

“For the Great Father and the Emperor!” Captain Thule roared, charging into the
city, followed by Chaplain Mikelus and Epistolary Anteas. Lasfire came at them from all
directions, but the Blood Ravens charged on. Sergeant Vipus and Sergeant Tarkus
followed their commander in, their bolters and flamers laying down fire at the scores of
Guardsmen surrounding them.
 Captain Thule laid waste to the Guardsmen with his thunderhammer, each strike
propelling a dead guardsmen into the air. Chaplain Mikelus swung his Crozius Arcanum,
crushing all Guardsmen resistance that he encountered. Senior Librarian Anteas was
ablaze with warp power, cutting down scores of Guardsmen with his Force Staff, while
warp lightning jumped from Guardsmen to Guardsmen, frying the fragile humans.

“Ogryn squad!” Vipus warned, leveling his plasma gun at the oversized mutants.
Standing at about two and a half metres, Ogryns were more muscle than brain, and
often they were more than a match against Space Marines in terms of strength. With
each pull of his trigger, a mini sun erupted from the muzzle of his weapon and flew
towards the hulking Ogryns. The bolts of superheated gas splashed across the Ogryns,
instantly melting armor and flesh alike with ease.

The Ogryns returned fire, still charging as if their brains hasn’t registered the fact
that they were dead. The primitive slugs embedded themselves in Vipus’ power armor,
but Vipus ignored them and continued to fire.

“Incoming!” Captain Thule voxed. “Incoming Baneblade! Avitus! Get some fire on
it!”

There was a flash, and solid lance of las punched into the flank of the Baneblade,
leaving a small smoking hole. But the Baneblade continued advancing, all eleven barrels
of firepower scanning for targets. Tarkus tossed a melta bomb but it detonated uselessly
against the tracks of the tank. Avitus and his Devastator squad opened fire with their
lascannons and missile launchers. The munitions and lasfire impacted on the Baneblade.
One of the lascannon blast managed to destroyed the main turret.

Davian Thule leaped off one of the surrounding buildings, and landed on the
Baneblade tank, denting the metal as he landed. He brought his thunderhammer down
on the hatch of Baneblade. There was a loud thunderclap and the hatch exploded
inward. Thule freed a string of frag grenade from his belt and tossed it down into the
Baneblade. The Captain quickly sprinted off the Baneblade and managed to get to a safe
distance before the superheavy tank exploded. The Guardsmen, seeing their best tank
so easily destroyed let out a dismay sigh, and many of them retreated, much to the fury
of the Commissars

“Send in the HQ.” Davian Thule ordered through the vox. The other Blood
Ravens emerged from cover to cheer their commander on, and the only one who wasn’t
cheering was Avitus, who stood over the body of one of his Devastator squad members.
The dead Astartes had a clean hole punched through his head from one of the sponsoon
lascannon of the Baneblade.

“Cowards and traitors.” Avitus growled, walking away as Apothecary Gordian

retrieved the geneseed of the fallen brother.

“Sergeant Tarkus, take your squad, head north to attack the base on the northen
shore. Its apparently manned by the first company of the 1st Kronus liberators. Sergeant
Mako’s Land Speeder squadron will support you. Capture that position, and we have a
good jumping off point for the final assault.” Davian Thule ordered. “Vipus, take your
squad and Thaddeus’ assault Marine will destroy the Baneblade base to the west.
Sergeant Tanthius, you and the Terminators will be supporting my advance down the
main street and capturing the bridge. Avitus. We need your heavy fire there.”

“Yes, sir.” The Sergeants chorused. They saluted and headed for the waiting
Rhinos to deliver them to their respective warzone.

***

“Minefield ahead. You’re going to have to continue on foot, Sergeant.” Brother

Priam reported, looking back from the driver’s seat.
 “Roger that. Tactical Squad, disembark!” Vipus replied, standing up and opening
the ramp. The Tactical Marines shuffled out of the APC and was greeted with intense las
fire from shooters on the roofs around them. “Form up and return fire!”

As the Tactical Marines returned fire, Sergeant Thaddeus and his squad arrived
on their wings of fire. They crash landed on the roofs, quickly throwing the Guardsmen
into disarray before the Blood Raven’s chainswords put any confusion out of the
Guardsmen’s minds. Sergeant Thaddeus hacked down Guardsmen after Guardsmen, his
chainsword growling with hate.

“Thanks.” Vipus voxed as he reloaded. The Tactical squad advanced through the
minefield carefully, their weapons scanning for a target in case of an ambush.
“Incoming!”

The Earthshakers lived up to their names as they impacted, throwing up tons of

earth with each impact. Brother Julius was hit. In fact, he was vaporized by the shell. The
Blood Ravens stormed forward, eager to escape the killzone of the artillery. “Captain,
we’ve encountered Earthshaker batteries. I estimate about five of them.” Vipus
reported, while he ran on. Thaddeus and his squad soared above them, trying to locate
the source of artillery.

“Vipus, they’re firing again.” Thaddeus warned. “Commander. We have a

confirmed sighting of Basilisk artillery batteries. Over.”

“Roger that. That’s the same artillery that’s impending our progress. Take it out,
priority target.” Captain Thule replied.

“Roger that, Captain. Vipus out.” The Sergeant replied, diving into cover as
several Guardsmen fired at him. “Enemy base in sight.”
 The Baneblade base was just ahead, a heavily fortified base with emplaced heavy
bolter turrets and several squads of Imperial Stormtrooper wearing the bulkier carapace
armor. There seemed to be only one Baneblade in the base, and Vipus ordered his
squad to prepare melta and krak grenades. Thaddeus strung frag grenades into strings
and ensured that it was easy to prime all of them.

“You hit them on the ground, then I’ll jump in and take out the Baneblade.”
Thaddeus suggested.

“Agreed. Emperor speed, brother.” Vipus said, aiming his bolter.

The Tactical squad unleashed their firepower towards the Stormtroopers, and
many of them fell during the first volley. Answering fire blasted at them, stronger
versions of the lasrifle that the Guardsmen carried. Several of the bolts hit Vipus’ chest
plate, the energy bloom melting the surface of the ceramite. With a loud roar, Thaddeus
and his squad soared into the air, and the Assault Marine rained down bolt shells and
grenades that devastated the line of Stormtroopers. As the turrets raised to counter
them, they rocketed downwards, crashing on top of the Baneblade. Vipus saw Thaddeus
rip a hatch open and dropping a string of frag grenades into the tank.

The Assault Marines leaped off the massive tank to engage the Stormtroopers in
hand to hand, where the greater brute strength of the Space Marines would ensure
their victory. Vipus and his squad advanced, moving in groups of two so that covering
fire could be laid down effectively. The heavy bolters tracked the Space Marine’s
movements, sending a torrent of explosive shells that kept forcing the Blood Ravens to
take cover.

“To the left! We got a storm trooper with a plasma gun!” a marine warned,
pointing to the storm trooper.
 Vipus saw the storm trooper fire, and the bright blue bolt of superheated gas
heading for him. He dived to avoid it, and broke into a run, full tilt towards the offending
Guardmen. To his credit, the Storm trooper held his ground, desperately waiting for the
plasma gun to cool down. Unfortunately, he won’t live long enough to find out. Vipus
lashed out with a kick that broke the Guardmen’s ribs, then he brought his fist down like
a hammer that caved in the human’s skull. The Sergeant freed a krak grenade and
slapped it against one of the controls of the automated heavy bolter turret. The grenade
went off, leaving the controls a smoking mess. The turrets died.

“Forward! Destroy their base! Make sure none would escape!” Vipus roared,
firing his plasma gun at a Chimera that emerged from one of the storage buildings. The
superheated bolts splattered and melted the relatively thin plates of the APC, and the
Chimera returned fire with its multilaser. Warning runes appeared in his HUD as what
felt like repeated hammer blows on his paudron caused him to recoil. He aimed for the
turret and prayed to the Emperor to guide his bolt true.

***

“Incoming Leman Russ, lascannon, to the fore!” Avitus growled, firing his heavy
bolter at the scores of Guardsmen threatening to overrun his position. Dozens of
Guardsmen fell per second from the combined firepower of the Devastator Marines,
who were holed up in a one storey building with plenty of cover and a good firing arc.
Captain Thule had them hold this position to secure their flank while the Predators
would hit the base that was directing the artillery.

Avitus’ Devastator squad consisted of three heavy bolters, two lascannons, and a
single melta gun. They had been holding back the wave of enemies for more than half
an hour, killing so many Guardsman that they had to use grenades to clear the killing
field of the dead bodies. They had been coming at the Blood Ravens, attempting to
storm their position, but each time the Space Marines hurled the assault back with
overwhelming firepower and deadly precision.
 There was a familiar and distinctive whine as the lascannon built up the charge
to fire. Then a flash of blue from the muzzle and the bright orange explosion of the lead
Leman Russ tank. It was often said that a single Space Marine could carry more
firepower than a company of Guardsmen could. Whoever said that was right. Brother
Dvorn reloaded and retargeted his lascannon.

“Destroy the enemy, brothers, let the Emperor guide your bolt true!” Avitus
growled, stepping back to reload. Brother Alaric stepped forward and fired his melta
gun in a wide arc, melting the Guardsmen into nothing. Avitus quickly slipped the
cassette into the feed and stepped forward to take Alaric’s place. He resumed firing and
nodded with approval as Dvorn took out the third Leman Russ tank.

The Leman Russ tanks fired, ripping large chunks of the buildings out with each
round, but nobody was wounded. “Take out that damn tank! Alaric, see if you can get
an angle on him! Try the roof!”

The Devastator broke off and headed up the roof. Moments later, a stream of
energy impacted on one of the Leman Russ’ turret. The turret promptly melted, and the
gunner must have tried to fire as the Leman Russ exploded.

“Good shot, Alaric!”

Then another Leman Russ fired and the vox link to Alaric was cut off. “Alaric!
Status report!” Avitus ordered, checking his HUD. The bio signs in his HUD showed Alaric
as flatlined.

“Sergeant Avitus, this is Captain Thule. Pull back. We’ve captured the base.”
 Avitus was torn between rescuing his teammate and obeying the Captain’s
orders. In the end, he followed the Captain’s orders, followed by a terse: “Affirmative.
Avitus pulling back now.”

***

“Damn, I hate this water.” Brother Cyrium muttered, indicating the knee high
water the Tactical Marines were walking through. The water slowed their progress.

Once or twice they had encountered ambushes, with the Guardsmen firing from
positions of advantage. The water ensured that there was very little cover for the Space
Marines. Unfortunately for the Guardsmen, the Astartes’ power armor provided them
with all the protection they need, and while Tarkus and his squad distracted the
Guardsmen, Sergeant Mako’s Land Speeders arrived, raining death down upon the
Guardsmen from their twin-linked assault cannons and storm bolters.

“Enemy base in sight, commander.” Tarkus reported.

“Roger that. Emperor guide you to victory, brother.”

“For the Emperor!” Tarkus cried, as he charged towards the gate of the base that
they were sent to destroy. The Land Speeders joined in the attack, cutting down scores
of Guardsmen.

The Tactical Marines stormed the base, vaulting easily over the razor wire and
sandbags, they laid down fire, advancing two by two, in a leapfrogging manner. The
Land Speeders swooped down, like packs of birds of prey swooping down on packs of
rats. The Guardsmen panicked, and many of them attempted to retreat, but they were
cut down by their own brethren as they ran into their own firing arcs.
 “No mercy for the enemy, brothers.” Tarkus declared, standing tall amidst the
hastily aimed fire. He fired his bolter from the hip, in single shots, cutting down the
troopers. His squad, inspired by the sight of him, roared with assent, and they stood fast
as two Chimera APCs arrived and a squad of Ogryns arrived, led by a Priest, who was
screaming litanies and prayers in his hellfire voice. “Concentrate on the Ogryns first.”

His squad opened up with their bolters and plasma guns, cutting down the first
of the Ogryns. Dozens of rounds impacted and exploded in the Ogryns, but they seemed
to ignored the grievous injuries that they bore. Brother Cyrium aimed his flamer and let
loose, a spear of ignited promethium spurting from the muzzle. Despite the burning fuel
being over a thousand degrees, the Ogryns stormed through it as if it was nothing but a
cool river. Tarkus emptied his boltgun, holstered it, and drew his chainsword with a
powerful arc that left a gaping wound in the Ogryn’s chest. He noticed that the
promethium was burning the Ogryns all right, but it’s like they’ve ignored the pain.
Tarkus then kicked the Ogryn, cannoning the monstrous humanoid back into its fellow
soldiers. His action seemed to have confused the other Ogryns, as they tried to untangle
themselves, and that gave the Blood Ravens some breathing space.

Finally, the last Orgyn dropped, finally realizing that he was dead and the Tactical
Squad proceeded with destroying the rest of the base. One of the Land Speeders were
shot down by a lucky salvo from a Hydra AA battery, and the two Space Marines, though
wounded, were still defending their sacred craft from the hordes of Guardsmen trying to
overwhelm it.

“To the Land Speeder, brothers!’ Tarkus ordered, sheathing his sword and
drawing his bolter. The Tactical Squad made their way towards the crashed vehicle, and
together, they pushed the waves of enemies back.

Tarkus surveyed the wounded. One of the Marines had lopped his own leg in
order to free himself from the wreckage, while the other was largely fine. “Help me up, I
can still fight!” the wounded one ordered, extending a hand towards Tarkus. Tarkus
grabbed it, and he helped the Marine up. The stump where his leg used to be was
already healed, and a testimony to the powerful biology of Space Marines. The two of
them laid down fire and hobbled around.

“Captain Thule, we have a downed Land Speeder, send in Apothecaries and

Techmarines to recover the wreckage, over.” Tarkus voxed as he fired his boltgun in one
hand.

“Roger that. Sitrep, Tarkus.”

“Base is secured now, Captain. I’ve got two wounded, one serious.” Tarkus
reported.

“Good job, Tarkus. Await new orders.”

***

“Good job, Tarkus. Await new orders.” Captain Thule replied, cutting the link.
Avitus saluted to him. “Well done on holding that flank, Sergeant.”

Avitus nodded, his fury barely restrained. He glared at the ranks upon ranks of
surrendered Guardsmen. “Cowards and traitors, the lot of them.” Avitus growled,
checking his safety. Thule had the impression that the Marine was checking if it was
unlocked.

“They put up a good fight, Avitus. They did their duty to the Emperor. They’ve
already surrendered, Avitus, they are of no threat.” Captain Thule replied, a hint
ofwarning in his voice.
 “Bah! What are you going to do with them now? It would be foolish to deploy a
squad to watch after them.” Avitus roared, finger tightening on his trigger. “They’ve
made their choice when they decided to fight us. We take no prisoners!” With that,
Avitus swung his heavy bolter towards the gathered Guardsmen and fired. Avitus roared
with fury, his voice matching the sound of the heavy bolter as he cut down the
Guardsmen.

The Guardsmen fell over each other as they tried to escape the onslaught of the
Devastator, but to no avail, and there was no escape from the wrathful Space Marine.
The other Blood Ravens watched, shocked by the sudden outburst of anger, but they did
nothing about it, and they knew if they interrupted Avitus, they too would suffer his
wrath.

Avitus did not stop until each and every one of the Guardsmen were dead. He
lowered his smoking heavy bolter and calmly reloaded. He turned to Captain Thule.
“You were saying something, sir?”

“This will not go unpunished, Sergeant.” Captain Thule thundered, stepping up

against the Sergeant. “Assemble your squad and embark on the convoy, we’re taking
the bridge before noon.”

“Sir.” Avitus said, turning around and heading for the waiting Rhinos.

“Get the Land Raider up front!” Captain Thule ordered, climbing aboard the
command Rhino. Sergeant Tanthius and his Terminators were already onboard the Land
Raiders and awaiting deployment. “Let’s get moving! We take the bridge, today!”

The Blood Raven armored column rolled forward, heading towards the bridge,
the only bridge that would lead to the north shore, the bridge that allows the assault to
continue towards the main Imperial Guard base.
 “Contact, enemy Leman Russ tanks.” The lead Land Raider commander reported.

“Take them out, brothers.”

The Commander did not give a reply, but instead, a twin lance of las erupted
from the twin linked lascannon, easily spearing straight through the Leman Russ. The
other Imperial tanks returned fire, but their rounds only bounced off the mighty tanks of
the Space Marines. The Predators and Land Raiders pushed forward, easily annihilating
the enemy armor.

“Destroy all enemy armor!” Avitus roared, climbing up onto the top of the Rhino
tank. He prepped his missile launcher and he fired, sending a salvo of missiles rocketing
towards one of the Leman Russ. The first punched a hole in the armor, then the second
and third detonated inside the tank. He reloaded. Then he sighted a massive shape
approaching. “Baneblade! Incoming enemy Baneblade.”

The Rhinos immediately backed up when the Predators and Land Raiders
advanced, aiming their lascannons. The Baneblade came into range and fired its massive
Demolisher cannon at the closest Predator tank. With a large explosion, the Predator
tank was vaporized save for a wrecked and twisted hull.

The Land Raider fired both of its sponsoon twin-linked lascannons, and that
managed to destroy one of the Baneblade’s sponsoon lascannons. The Baneblade fired
its demolisher cannon, but this time, the round only bounced off the Land Raider’s front
armor.

“Commander, permission to disembark and engage in close quarters.” Sergeant

Tanthius requested.

“Granted. Avitus, lay down some fire.” Captain Thule ordered.

 Avitus and his Devastators climbed to the top of the Rhino, giving them a clear
firing arc. Missile launchers and heavy bolters rained down upon the enemy Guardsmen
surrounding the Baneblade. The front hatch of the Land Raiders opened and the
Terminators flooded out of the tanks, their storm bolters firing, while their close combat
weapons crackled with promise of death for the enemy. The Terminators plowed
through the Guardsmen with their power fists and thunderhammers. The Baneblade
saw the Terminators approach and attempted to back out, but Avitus ordered the
lascannon bearer to take out the Baneblade’s tracks. With a blue flash, Dvorn managed
to destroy one of the wheels inside the track, causing the super heavy tank to grind to a
halt.

Sergeant Tanthius punched the Baneblade with his powerfist. Even the thick
adamantine offered no resistance to Tanthius’ powerfist, an honored relic of the
Chapter, sailed through the adamantine with ease. Tanthius and the Terminators ripped
through the tank, scrapping it piece by piece. Avitus and his squad laid down so much
fire that a curve appeared in the Guard lines wherever they directed their fire.

“Mount up, we’re moving!” Captain Thule ordered, as the Land Raiders raked
the Guardsmen with its storm bolters, cutting down the humans like wheat before a
scythe.

***

Thaddeus drove his chainsword into the Ogryn’s chest, twisting it to pop the
mutant’s heart, before ripping his weapon back out with a spray of blood and shattered
bones. He kicked the dead body away and fired his bolt pistol at another charging
Ogryn. He managed to get two shots off before having to body slam the monstrous
humanoid. The two of them crashed to the ground and Thaddeus dropped his
chainsword and pummeled the Ogryn with his fists, the encounter too close for any
proper swordsmanship.

He did not stop until there was an audible crack of bone and he quickly
recovered his chainsword, unwilling to part with his weapon any longer than necessary.
He found himself fighting back to back with Vipus.
 “Damn, these Ogryns can fight, eh?” Thaddeus commented, hacking down one
of the Guardsmen who was foolish enough to charge the Sergeant.

“Aye.” Vipus replied, firing his boltgun. His plasma gun had went dry after
destroying that Chimera and he was forced to use his boltgun.

The Blood Ravens were still at the Baneblade production facility, fending off a
massive Imperial Guard counterattack, spearheaded by a platoon of Ogryns, who were
supported by several Imperial Stormtroopers. It was clear that the Imperial Guard
wanted this production facility back badly. But the Blood Ravens had been given their
orders, and they would never back down from an enemy, even against overwhelming
odds.

“By the Emperor! Not one step backwards! Let none find us wanting!” Vipus
roared, “Form up!”

The Blood Ravens heard their Sergeant’s call, and they quickly made their way
towards him, and they formed a circle, with their guns pointing outwards. The Assault
Marines fired their jetpacks and soared to the air, firing their bolters. There were only a
few Ogryns left of the original platoon, thanks to Thaddeus’ assault marines. But the
Stormtroopers were still laying down heavy fire on the Blood Ravens, slightly more than
an irritant to Vipus’ marines.

The hellguns that the Stormtroopers carried packed slightly more punch than the
lasguns that the Guardsmen carried, but no enemy should ever be underestimated, and
Vipus treated the Stormtroopers no different to the Ogryns.
 The hard bangs of bolters were accompanied with the distinctive roar of
chainswords in action was reassuring to Vipus, as he emptied his bolter into the last
Ogryn, who dropped finally after having his throat ripped out by the explosive rounds.

“Clear. We still need to take out the damn artillery.” Thaddeus called out.

“Agreed.” Vipus nodded. He pointed to the terrain leading to the Basilisk

batteries. “The terrain ahead will be perfect place for ambushes. Thaddeus. Take your
squad and use your jetpacks to clear it out. We’ll follow closely.”

“Roger that.” Although they were both Sergeants, Vipus was the senior here,
with over a century of combatunder his belt. Thaddeus was still considered young,
despite fighting for the Chapter for more than half a century. “With me, brothers!”

Thaddeus and his Assault squad rocketed into the air, leaving a trail of exhaust.
Vipus ordered his squad to form up on him, and he moved out, splashing into the knee
high water.

***

Sergeant Tanthius led the way, as always, his storm bolter spitting out round
after round at the veritable horde of Guardsmen. There was no shortage of targets, and
the Terminators reaped a horrific tally, cutting down Guardsmen after Guardsmen. The
Predators and Land Raiders followed closely behind, their turreted weapons firing.
Avitus and his Devastators, taking cover behind the tanks laid down heavy suppressive
fire.

Captain Thule and his Command Retinue were not far behind, directing the
attack. Chaplain Mikelus was roaring litanies of battle, spurring the Blood Ravens on.
The Imperial Guard had deployed a line of heavy weapons including heavy bolters and
autocannons and they opened fire immediately, sending a hail of fire so heavy, even
Tanthius had to take cover.

“Storm shields to the fore! Tactical advance!” Tanthius roared, raising his power
fist. The Terminators armed with Storm shields advanced to the fore of the advance,
bracing their shields against the onslaught of the heavy weapons.

The Terminators advanced, careful to maintain their formation in order to

protect each other. Captain Thule had foreseen this, and too had been armed with a
storm shield alongside his thunderhammer. The Captain leaped forward and joined the
formation.

They advanced as one, the weight of enemy fire countered by the strength of the
storm shields. In fact, storm shields were known to repel lascannon attacks, so the mere
autocannons barely scratched at the surface of the shield.

“For the Great Father and the Emperor!” Captain Thule roared, breaking free of
the formation and charging the last fifty metres towards the weapon emplacements.
The Captain swung his daemon hammer into the ground, the shockwave causing many
of the emplaced weapons to leave their mounts. The Guardsmen were not foolish or
courageous enough to attack the Blood Raven, and they quickly ran. “Into them!”

The second defense line comprised of dozens of Imperial Guard squads formed
into firing lines. Captain Thule ducked behind his shield as they fired, while the
Terminators opened fire, cutting down dozens of Guardsmen with each carefully aimed
volleys. That gave Captain Thule some breathing space, and he crashed into the lines, his
hammer swinging.

It connected with one of the Guardsmen, and with a loud thunder clap, the
soldier was cannoned into another group of Guardsmen, throwing everyone down by
the force of impact.
 Sergeant Avitus and his Devastators were a blaze of fire, cutting down
Guardsmen relentlessly, and the veteran Sergeant guided his squads fire with such skill
that many enemies attempted to charge and take them down. But Avitus had cut down
the assaulters with his heavy bolter even before they managed to cross the hundred
metre line.

“Rain death upon our foes, brothers!” Avitus roared, directing his fire towards a
group of priests and Commissars that were spurring the Guardsmen on.

“Psyker.” Epistolary Anteas warned, pointing to a figure that was wreathed in

lightning. The Librarian conjured a fireball and hurled it at the psyker, who promptly
captured it with his staff. “This could be interesting…”

Anteas pointed his Force Staff, and warp lightning sprung from it, leaping
through the horde of Guardsmen, frying each Guardsmen until reaching the Psyker. The
Psyker was thrown off his feet, but unlike the troopers, he survived to return the
greeting in kind. A blast of lightning splattered against the Librarian’s armor, his psychic
hood nullifying the worse of the psychic attack. “Enough!” Anteas roared, disappearing
with a flash of thunder and arrived beside the psyker.

The Librarian speared his Force Staff forward, the Imperial Eagle perched atop
flaring with power as Anteas drove it into the psyker. The Eagle exploded out of the
Psyker’s back, and the Blood Raven twisted the staff, making sure that the enemy was
dead. Anteas threw the dead body off his staff.

Chaplain Mikelus was beside the Captain in battle, using his Crozius Arcanum to
lay waste to squads of Guardsmen, screaming encouragements and curses with equal
vigor.
 “Only in war are we truly faithful!” Chaplain Mikelus thundered, “Destroy our
foes, brothers for none can withstand our faith!”

The Blood Ravens cheered at the sight of the Chaplain, fighting even harder to
reach the feats of the Chaplain. Tanthius and his Terminators formed a phalanx and laid
down fire as Anteas charged into battle, twirling his battlestaff.

“Information is power!” Anteas roared, slamming his Force Staff into the ground,
sending out a psychic shockwave that smited many of the surrounding Guardsmen.

The artillery barrage came in without warning, taking everyone by surprise.

***

“Fury from the skies! Cut the enemy down!” Thaddeus roared, as he crashed into
the ground. He hacked down the closest Guardsmen. He heard the distinctive crack of
hotshot snipers. One of the rounds hit his helmet, and he staggered as his vision was
filled with static. He tore his helmet off and noticed it was cracked.

The artillery battery was in disarray, with the crews running around, attempting
to organize an effective defense against the Assault Marines. The Basilisk tanks were still
firing, a desperate attempt to get the last laugh. Thaddeus sprinted towards one of the
Basilisk, where the crew was still desperately loading shells and firing. He leaped and
punched one of the crew off the tank. He swung his sword that slashed into the side of
another crew. The Assault Sergeant slapped a melta bomb to the back of the cannon
and rocketed off to safety.

The Basilisk exploded just as Vipus and his squad arrived in wave of firepower
that furthered the Imperial Guard’s confusion and their inability to counter the Space
Marine’s attack. Another explosion meant that this artillery battery is out of action for
now.

“We’re clear.” Thaddeus called out, walking over to the other Sergeant. “Captain
Thule and his force should be in the clear.”
 ***

Davian Thule coughed, and tried to get up. He found that he was stuck under a
large piece of rubble. He rerouted power to the servos in his armor, and he hurled the
slab of rockcrete off him. He quickly recovered his Daemon hammer, and looked around
for other survivors. Chaplain Mikelus, seeing his commander rise from the rubble,
quickly rushed over and helped him up. The Chaplain’s Rosarius must have protected
him from the worse of the artillery.

Captain Thule saw a armored gauntlet sticking out from under a pile of rubble,
and he quickly rushed over to dig out. The gauntlet was the brilliant blue of a Librarian’s
armor and he doubled his effort. But it was too late for the Librarian, a sizable chunk of
rockcrete had pierced straight through Anteas’ helmet.

There was a roar, and Sergeant Tanthius rose from the ground, throwing off
debris. That itself was a mute testament to the strength of Terminator armor, as
Tanthius lifted another slab of rockcrete to free another Blood Raven.

“Sound off!” Captain Thule cried angrily. “They will pay for this dearly.”

It seemed only Avitus’ Devastator squad survived without any casualties, being
positions in an advantageous position prior to the artillery barrage. Sergeant Tanthius
had lost more than half of his Terminators, and several of the Predators were rendered
inoperable.

But it seemed that the Imperial Guard were beaten off, and the bridge, or at
least this side of it, belongs to them. “Litany of Fury, send down reinforcements.
Techmarines and Apothecaries are needed.”

“Roger.”

“Vipus. Tarkus fall back to my position. Now.” Captain Thule ordered.

“Understood, sir.” The Sergeants replied.

“Brothers, the enemy has dealt us a grievous. But we must fight on and avenge
all those who have fallen!” Chaplain Mikelus roared, standing atop one of the damaged
Predators. “We must fight on and continue on His Righteous Crusade!”
 “For the Emperor.” Captain Thule nodded. He turned around as he saw a small
rag tag band of Imperial Guard rushing across the bridge, they were unarmed and were
waving flags that signaled defeat. He gestured to his Marines to lower their weapons.

“We surrender.” The lead Guardsmen declared, trying to catch his breath.
Captain Thule approached the Guardsmen, who seemed to be looking back fearfully.

Captain Thule saw why: three Commissars, accompanied by a squad of Ogryns

were approaching fast. Tanthius raised his storm bolter.

“We do not wish to fight. Let us execute these men for cowardice and move on.”
the Commissar declared, putting his hand on his sword.

Captain Thule shook his head and drew his bolt pistol. He held his hammer
loosely in the other. The Commissars drew their bolt pistols.

“To the last, kill them all!” Chaplain Mikelus thundered, charging in battle. The
Commissars and the Ogryns fired, their rounds bouncing off the Chaplain’s armor.
Mikelus was quite a sinister figure in his all black power armor and skull mask.

Mikelus swung his Crozius sideways, catching the first Ogryn in the side and
throwing the massive humanoid back. Then the Chaplain emptied his bolt pistol into the
second Ogryn, and followed up with a upward swing of his Crozius that sent the Ogryn
tumbling heads over heads. Captain Thule was close behind the Chaplain, his
Daemonhammer swinging. With a loud thunderclap he dashed one of the Commissars
against the ground. Nothing was left except a large puddle of pulverized remains.

The two remaining Commissars quickly ran back across the bridge to safety as
the Terminators joined the fray. Two Thunderhawks landed, dispatching the
Techmarines and Apothecaries, as well as reinforcements for Tanthius’ squad. Two Drop
Pods arrived, and Ancient Ralynor and Ancient Dralnor freed themselves from the drop
pod. Sergeant Tarkus, Vipus and Thaddeus arrived.

Seeing such magnificent warriors joining the fight inspired the Blood Ravens.
Captain Thule kneeled in front of the Dreadnoughts, and said. “Ancients. Would you
lead us into battle?”

“It would be my honor.” Ralynor said slowly.

“Thank you, revered ancient.” Thule said, straightening up. He leaped up onto
one of the tanks to brief the gathered Blood Ravens. “Blood Ravens! We close with our
objective! Once we take the bridge, we can continue on to bring death to our foes. Our
revered ancients will lead the charge, and the rest will be down to us.”

***

“Commander. We’ve sighted enemy walkers. Dreadnoughts incoming across the

bridge. They’re preparing for the attack.” Captain Lyrder reported through the vox to
General Alexander.

“Deal with it. You must hold the bridge, second company.”

“Roger that.” Lyrder replied, cutting the link. All the previous defenses had failed
to hold the Space Marine back. He turned around and ordered a company wide channel.
“Sergeant Tank! You’re up. enemy walkers sighted. Bring it down.”

“Sir.” Sergeant “tank” Pillous replied. Pillous was famed amongst the company
for having a record of destroying three tanks in his career with a power fist. He was the
only one who had survived taking on enemy tanks with only a powerfist. To increase his
survivability, he was issued carapace armor, and a combat shield to protect him.

The Guardsmen cheered, everyone knowing of his exploits in battle, and they
knew that he was the one who could stop the enemy attack, accompanied by a squad of
stormtroopers to keep him safe.

***

“Enemy sighted.” Ancient Ralynor reported, his piston legs pumping quickly so
that he may close with the enemy. “I have come to destroy you.”

With a sweeping motion, the Dreadnought caught the puny Imperial Guard in
his power claw and brought up his other power claw. “I have come to destroy you.” The
Dreadnought fired his underslung flamer and immolated the Sergeant with a blast from
the flamer.

The Imperial Guard were dismayed to see the best of them get killed so easily
and they quickly opened fire, hoping to bring down the behemoth before it got close.
The las rounds splattered uselessly against the adamantine hull of the Dreadnought as it
crushed another of the stormtrooper with ease. Ancient Dralnor approached from its
distance, and the Guardsmen saw that it was in a different configuration than the
Dreadnought that was killing Sergeant Tank.

“Death comes to the enemy.” Ancient Dralnor vocabulated, the six barrels of his
assault cannon cycling up. Hundreds of thousands of rounds exploded from the six
barrels, and the Dreadnought sweeped it around, easily cutting down the Imperial
Guardsmen like wheat before a scythe. With such a high rate of fire, it could chew
through Terminator armor with ease, and with the lightly armored Imperial Guard, the
assault cannon reaped a terrible tally amongst the enemy.

The two tactical squads arrived, wielding bolters, flamers and plasma guns and
they too cut into the enemy humans. Flamers worked to great effect on the gathered
troopers, as they panicked from the fiery assault, falling over each other as they tried to
retreat.

“You will hold your ground!” Tarkus heard a Commissar yell, and he quickly
raised his plasma gun and fired. The Commissar dropped to the ground with a hole in his
chest. The Guardsmen around the Commissar immediately fled to safer places.

Avitus and his Devastators formed a line and fired, and they’re firepower
became the terror of the Guardsmen, as they stumbled over each other as they tried to
find cover from Avitus’ wrath. But there was nowhere they could hide from the
Sergeant’s fury.

“Plasma cannon to the fore! Destroy them, brothers.” Avitus growled, pointing
to a large group of Guardsmen who were trying to escape. There was a whine as the
power built up inside the plasma cannon, and there was a loud “put” as the miniature
sun erupted from the muzzle and flew towards the group of troopers.

The ball of plasma exploded, vaporizing at least a dozen of Guardsmen, and it

left a curiously glassy surface where the plasma melted the sand.

“With me, my brothers.” Tarkus ordered, striding forward, his bolter spitting out
death towards the retreating human soldiers. There was no escape, and as the Blood
Ravens tightened the noose around the Imperial Guard forces.

Ancient Raylnor was in the middle of the action, his power claws smiting all
those around his mighty form. Hastily aimed las rounds splattered uselessly against the
master crafted hull of the Dreadnought. Raylnor had fallen in battle long ago, against
the traitorous Eldar and had been interred into a Dreadnought since. Each kill of the
Venerable Dreadnought inspired the Space Marines to even greater feats of valor.

Sergeant Thaddeus fought alongside the Venerable Dreadnought to keep the

Imperial Guard from swarming the Dreadnought. The loud mechanical roars of the
chainswords were accompanied by the whine of lasrifles being discharged quickly. The
Guardsmen that rushed the Dreadnought were veterans, and it showed from their
equipment and their discipline. Several of them carried smaller versions of the
chainsword and armored in bulky carapace armor, their armor offering slightly more
resistance than the thin flak armor.

“For the Emperor!” Sergeant Thaddeus roared, hacking down one of the enemy
troopers, his chainsword splattering him with the blood of the veteran. He kicked the
body away to free his blade.

A blade impacted his shoulder paudron, skidding away as it failed to gain

purchase. Thaddeus turned around and slammed the hilt of his sword into the skull of
the offending Guardsmen, the puny human dropped, and Thaddeus stamped on the
human, easily crushing his skull beneath his armored boot. “No quarter!”

His squad members echoed the warcry, fighting with renewed vigor. Although of
lesser strength and skill, the Guardsmen had the power of numbers on their side, and
Thaddeus found himself eventually worn down by the sheer mass of enemies he had to
fend off, and he ordered his squad to retreat into the air for a moment.

Meanwhile, Captain Angelos and the Chaplain were both fending off a platoon of
Ogryns that arrived via a small convoy of Chimera APCs. Each swing of his hammer
smote an Ogryn, but even so, another one would slip past his defense and lay a blow on
him. The Ogryns’ strength were great, and often Thule would recoil from the strength of
the blow.

“For Terra and the Chapter!” Captain Thule cried, slamming his hammer into the
ground, sending a shockwave erupting from him, knocking many of the Ogyrns off their
feet.

Chaplain Mikelus swung his Crozius Arcanum with great gutso, smiting groups of
enemies with ease. His skull helmet seemed to have affected the Ogryn on some deep
level, because many of them froze as he bore down upon them.
 “All ye hear me, you have come here to die, for the grace of the Emperor is with
us this day!” Chaplain Mikelus roared, raising his Crozius Arcanum. The Ogryn keened at
the sight of the magnificent Chaplain who was like a righteous god manifest.

There was no escape from the furious Chaplain as he brought his Crozius
Arcanum down, smiting the Ogryns with each swing of his mighty weapon. “Brother!
Fight with me! Redeem them with sword and fire! Support your captain!”

The Blood Ravens roared their assent, directing their fire towards the Ogryns
that surrounded the Captain. The monstrous humanoids were cut down by the tirade of
fire from the Space Marines, and the Captain nodded his thanks as he stood high
amongst the pile of dead bodies, his armor battered and blooded.

“We’re cleared.” Sergeant Vipus reported, chasing off the remaining Guardsmen.

“Sergeant Telion, bring your squad ahead and scout out the northern shore.”
Captain Thule voxed.

“Roger that.” The Sergeant replied grimly.

Thule searched around for the Sergeant, but found that he could not find the
elusive Sergeant. The Blood Ravens Sergeant bore the same name as the famous
Sergeant, and was comparable, in his skill with stealth and weaponary, especially with a
bolter that he crafted himself.

***

Telion raised a fist, and his squad froze in place, their camo cloaks rendering
them invisible. The Sergeant pinched up some soil from the ground. It was definitely
different fromn the soil around Victory Bay. It was as if it was scorched. He sniffed it,
and there was indeed a strong burnt smell. It was as if the trench they were traversing
was burnt. What weapon could have caused such extensive scorching of the soil?

“Wheln, scout the trench. Go.” Telion ordered, settling down amongst the soil.
“Enemy OP position. Be careful.”

The group of Guardsmen positioned in the OP scanned the length of the trench
with binoculars, but it seemed that they weren’t paying a lot of attention, as Telion
winced several times when his Scout kicked up some dust.
 “Sir. There seemed to be a massive weapon, the caliber of this trench ahead.
Looks like its been ripped off a titan.”

“Get back to the Captain and report it. We’re crossing the trench.” Sergeant
Telion ordered, cocking his bolter. He trained his sight onto the Guardsmen inside the
OP. “Fire on my mark.”

“Fire.” Telion pulled his trigger, and there was a puff, rather like a baby’s cough,
and all three of the Guardsmen fell. The Scouts quickly double timed across the trench
and taking over the OP. Telion quickly checked the vox, making sure it was set to receive
only.

Telion observed the Imperial Guard Firebase. He saw a Commissar executing one
of the Guardsmen, and he noticed the tension in the base. Perhaps if he took out the
Commissar, the Guardsmen will break quicker. He checked the distance and the wind
direction and strength. There was no wind, and he quickly lined up his target. He pulled
the trigger and the Commissar dropped dead, a clean hole in his head.

The gathered Guardsmen were surprised, and they quickly gunned down the
other Commissars, and the scouts were surprised to see the Guardsmen ripping off their
insignia on their uniforms.

“Captain. It seems like the Imperial Guard on the North Shore are a lot weaker
than we thought. They have surrendered without a fight.” Sergeant Telion reported,

“Roger that. We’re crossing the trench now.”

Telion turned around immediately as the entire trench was lit up by a massive
pulse of energy from the titan cannon. The vox was filled by several voices calling for
Apothecaries and sitreps, but Telion knew that nothing could have survived the
powerful attack.

“Captain Thule, are you still there?”

“Yeah. We just lost Sergeant Vipus and his squad. No other casualties.” Captain
Thule replied, his fury barely contained.

Telion turned around in time to see the Blood Ravens strike force arriving at the
OP.

“Sergeant.” Captain Thule nodded, “Step back. We’ll handle it from here.
Brothers. We must avenge all those who have fallen.”
 The Blood Ravens roared with righteous fury and they charged. The Guardsmen
saw them and immediately dropped their weapons and surrendered. One of the
Guardsmen, a captain, stepped forward and kneeled in front of Captain Thule.

“My Lord Marine. I swear my company to your service. We’ll show you where
they power the titan cannon.” The Captain said hastily, bowing even lower.

“The titan cannon. Show us where.” Captain Thule ordered curtly, preparing to
cut down the traitorous Guardsmen if the need arises.

The Guardsmen Captain led the way quickly, where a large amount of generators
sat, thick cables leading underground to the titan cannon. A techpriest turned around
and bowed to the Captain before realizing that there was a force of Blood Ravens
behind him. The Blood Ravens opened fire immediately, the volleys of bolt shells quickly
cutting down the Tech priest and the Guardsmen who defended the generators. An
explosion in the ranks of the Blood Ravens announced the arrival of a Leman Russ tank.
Avitus and his Devastators quickly opened fire.

A missile speared from Avitus’ tube, and detonated right up the tank’s turret.
The fiery explosion marked the end of resistance from the defenders. Thule sent the co-
ordinates to the strike cruiser awaiting in orbit, and the bombardment commenced,
quickly vaporizing the generators and reducing the area to molten slag.

“Time for payback!” Captain Thule heard the Imperial Guard Captain declared.

A large group of Imperial Stormtroopers headed out towards the final Imperial
Guard fortress. Thule gestured Telion over. “Go with them, scout out the terrain.”

“Aye sir.” Telion saluted, turned around and joined the Guardsmen’s advance.

“The rest of you, prepare for the fight ahead. It will be a hard one.” Captain
Thule ordered. “Make no mistake brothers. We are here to fight for the Emperor’s will,
and we will triumph!”

There was a loud crack, and Captain Thule fell to the ground. “Sniper!” The Blood
Ravens quickly surrounded the captain, their weapons cocked and ready. “There!
Moving from the ruins! Take him out!” the Astartes opened fire, sending hails of bolt
shells towards the escaping assassin. Several of them clipped the lithe figure, and it
staggered before a shot ripped a chunk out of its leg, causing him to fall.
 Sergeant Thaddeus and his squad rocketed towards the assassin, and he quickly
stamped the sniper underfoot to ensure the assassin had no weapon. Thaddeus
punched the Vindicare assassin, and its head snapped back.

“Damn. Good thing the Iron Halo kicked in in time.” Captain Thule groaned,
sitting up, much to the relief to the gathered Blood Ravens. “Did we get the assassin?”

“Sir.” Thaddeus reported, holding up the dead assassin. “Committed suicide.”

“Pity.” Captain Thule said, standing up and dusting his Power armor off. He
picked up his hammer and slung it over his shoulder. “Lets move to join Sergeant Telion.
Weapons free, we’re heading for the fight.”

***

The traitor Guardsmen died by the dozen, as they charged into the killing fields,
where they were cut down by overlapping fields of fire from heavy bolters and
autocannons, while artillery rained down on the pre-zeroed fields. Telion shook his
head, as it was a slaughter, and a waste. But for the Blood Ravens, it meant it was time
to break out the Whirlwind artillery tanks.

***

The three Whirlwind Artillery Tanks rolled into position, and Captain Thule gave
the order to fire. Immediately, missiles whooshed out of the tubes, rocketing towards
their target, striking targets painted by Sergeant Telion with deadly precision. The
Guardsmen scattered, in the hopes of lowering the chances of getting hit, but with a
click of the vox, Telion ordered the Whirlwinds to fire air bursting munitions to deal with
the scattered troops.

“Good hit. Keep up the fire.” Telion voxed, shifting the targeting laser to target a
group of Leman Russ tanks. “Armor piercing. Watch out, they’re launching counter
battery fire.”
 Telion watched with satisfaction as the dug in Leman Russ tanks transformed
into mighty fireballs. “They’re softened up. Strike now!”

A war cry rose from the charging Blood Ravens as they broke cover. There was
little response from the Imperial Guard, as they’ve been effectively suppressed by the
accurate fire from the Whirlwind tanks. Sheets of fire erupted from the charging Blood
Ravens, ripping chunks out of the ferrocrete walls.

“For the glory of the Imperium! Charge!” Chaplain Mikelus roared, raising his
Crozius Arcanum high, inspiring the Blood Ravens around him. “No prisoners! Destroy
them!”

Thaddeus and his Assault Squad fired their jetpacks and rose quickly, vaulting
over the walls quickly. “Lots of enemies! No tanks yet!” Thaddeus roared, charging into
battle with his chainsword roaring. Sergeant Tarkus and his tactical squad quickly laid
down fire while the Captain and the Chaplain charged into battle.

“Now you have come for your death, Captain! Prepare to face annihilation!”
Governor Alexander roared, appearing atop the fortress, surrounded by his command
cadre and a score of veteran Kasrikin troopers. Armored in carapace and armaplas
plates, the Governor General extended his lightning claws threateningly.

Captain Thule nodded sadly, knowing that there is no turning back for the
Governor General. This fight would have to end in death. “Sergeant Tarkus! Support my
approach! Forward!”

Sergeant Tarkus and his tactical squad advanced steadily, ignoring the heavy fire
that the Kasrikin troopers were laying down towards them. Captain Thule and Chaplain
Mikelus charged, plowing a way towards the Governor General.

“You should have surrendered, Governor General.” Captain Thule roared, as he

finished off the last of the bodyguard.

“I will never surrender, Captain. I am under orders from Segmentum Command

to purge this planet and restore Imperial Order!” Alexander replied, firing his wrist
mounted storm bolter. The tirade of bolt shells only bounced off the Captain’s
chestplate, and only served to signal the start of the duel.

Normally, this fight would end in certain defeat for the Governor, but extensive
augmentic surgery has gave the General strength and endurance that far surpasses any
normal human.
 “I fight for the glory of the Emperor!” Governor Alexander declared, spearing
forward with his lightning claws.

“Then surrender now, before more lives are wasted!” Captain Thule roared,
easily parrying the blow with the haft of his hammer.

“I have never surrendered, and certainly not to you!” Alexander roared,

launching a kick towards Chaplain Mikelus, the blow bouncing off the Chaplain’s armor
easily. The Chaplain responded with a quick swing of his Crozius Arcanum, catching
Alexander in his side and causing him to fly a few metres. One of Alexander’s command
cadre,

“If not to us, then to the Imperial Creed!” Captain Thule yelled, bringing his
hammer down.

Lukas Alexander rolled out of the way just in time and fired another barrage
from his storm bolter into the Captain. This time, at point blank range, it cracked the
Captain’s chestplate, and the Space Marine recoiled. Alexander was about to stab his
lightning claws into the Captain.

Chaplain Mikelus bodyslammed the Governor out of the way and the duo
crashed into the ground. Alexander pummeled the Chaplain with his lightning claws, but
the Chaplain’s Rosairus protected him from the grievous injuries. Captain Thule swung
his hammer, which connected with the Governor and sent his shattered body flying, and
the Captain helped the Chaplain up.

“Thank you, brother.” The Chaplain said, nodding his thanks. “A worthy foe.”

“Perhaps for you.” Captain Thule joked, elbowing the Chaplain. “Brothers! The
enemy leader is dead! Destroy the rest of them.”

The Blood Ravens roared with assent, gunning down the morally crushed
Guardsmen with ease, and Thule saw a Kasrikin Sergeant attempting to rally his troop.
“Fall back to the Hellstorm cannon! Now!” Captain Thule quickly headed over to the
dwindling circle of Kasrikin troopers, and he held up a hand to signal a cease fire.

“You can surrender, troopers. We do not want any more bloodshed.” Captain
Thule said, his weapons lowered. “Go! Overload the core, we can’t let them take the
cannon!”
 “Go gak yourself!” the Captain roared, firing his hellgun. Captain Thule raised an
arm that took the worst of the barrage. The Blood Ravens immediately opened fire,
cutting down the soldiers, while the Techpriest ran back inside the cannon.

“Pull back!” Captain Thule ordered, as the titan hellstorm cannon exploded.

The Blood Ravens managed to pull back to a safe distance as the entire titan
cannon exploded.

“Well done, brothers!”

 Assault on the Necron Catacombs

“Ah. To walk upon the bloodstained ground once more.” Chaplain Mikelus said,
stepping off from the Land Raider.

Captain Thule, Techmarine Martellus and Apothecary Gordian followed, stepping

off the Venerated vehicle. The Blood Ravens quickly secured the plateau that they were
using as a base. The servitors shifted a large plasma bomb off another Land Raider, while
Techmarine Martellus calculated some figures on his logic engine.

“Commander. I have found the optimum point to plant the plasma charge.”
Techmarine Martellus reported, looking up from his logic engine. “I have marked it on
your HUD.”

“Thank you, brother.” Captain Thule said, receiving the data. “I shall plant the
bomb myself.”

“You are too important, Captain. The rest of the purge will still require your
leadership. You of all of us should survive.” Apothecary Gordian said.

“Though to die in battle is the greatest honor, I have no planned to do so. At

least not today.” Captain Thule declared.

“Sir. All squads are accounted for and ready for deployment.” Sergeant Tarkus
reported, saluting. Captain Thule nodded, and quickly issued orders for the scout squads
to move out. “Tarkus. Your squad and Brakespur squad form the Vanguard. The Land
Raiders and Predators will follow.”

“Understood, sir.” Sergeant Tarkus replied, cocking his bolter and gesturing for
his squad to follow.

The Blood Ravens advanced, carefully scanning all angles of approach for any
signs of the Necrons. “Be on guard. These Necrons can appear out of nowhere.” Tarkus
warned. “Brother Praxus! I want your plasma gun at the ready. It’s the best bet against
the larger ones.” Praxus nodded and clicked the safety off.

“Contact!” Tarkus yelled, dropping to one knee, firing his bolter. The rest of his
squad followed, as several Necron Warriors appeared. Bolt shells pinged off the
Necron’s metal skin, detonating uselessly on the surface, while Praxus scored a kill with
his plasma gun, melting the Necron’s chest with a precise bolt. “Keep firing!”
 By the Emperor, these Necrons were hard to kill. It took just slightly less than
half a magazine to drop one of these Necrons, and Tarkus feared that they would soon
run out of ammunition. Then the Necrons returned fire. Green lightning erupted from
the barrels, and one of them connected with Praxus. Instantly, Praxus dropped to the
ground, his chestplate vaporized by a single blast from the Necron’s weapons. Tarkus
sprinted over and swooped up the fallen Marine’s weapon. He pumped the trigger,
firing as quickly as it allowed him to, sending a hail of superheated gas that melted
another Necron’s head.

“Cover! Don’t let them hit you!” Tarkus yelled, priming a frag grenade. He threw
it, and it detonated in the face of a Necron Warrior. The implacable enemy toppled
over, and slowly began to get up. “Captain Thule. Enemy forces are a lot stronger than
we anticipated. Requesting reinforcements!”

“Understood. Sergeant Tanthius and his squad are inbound. Hold position!”

There was a flash of thunder, and the Terminators arrived. Arrayed in a reversed
arrowhead formation, they opened fire immediately, sending a hail of storm bolter
shells into the Necrons. Even the self repairing metal of the Necrons could not protect
them from the powerful barrage and they were cut down.

“Thanks for the timely intervention, Sergeant.” Tarkus nodded.

“My pleasure.” Sergeant Tanthius replied, checking the load in his storm bolter.
“We got you covered. Lead the way.”

“Sir.” Tarkus nodded, sheathing his boltgun and checking Praxus’ plasma gun. It
was down to three quarters full. He would have to watch his consumption, lest it run
out of power.

***

“For the Emperor! Charge!” Sergeant Longinus roared, firing his melta gun. The
stream of energy that erupted from the muzzle quickly vaporized one of the Necron
Warriors. His brothers quickly followed, echoing the warcry. Several of them threw
melta bombs that proved effective against the Necrons. The Necrons were quickly
destroyed, and the Sergeant continued deeper into the cavern.
 Something triggered a loud explosion, and the entrance collapsed. Sergeant
Longinus was now cut off from his squad, and he paused for a moment before turning
around and charging into another group of Necrons that just appeared. Dying became a
certainty, but the Veteran Sergeant would not die without a fight.

***

“Keep firing! Don’t let them close!” Captain Thule roared, firing his plasma pistol.
His sword was unsheathed, a relic once held by legendary Captain Alexian was poised to
strike. Chaplain Mikelus, Apothecary Gordian, Techmarine Martellus, and Sergeant
Ulyus stood side by side, firing at the horde of Necrons heading for them.

These Necrons were draped in the flesh of deceased, becoming a horrible parody
of the once living with their slow shuffling walk. Claws gleamed in the light of weapons,
as did the metal parts that the rotting flesh could not conceal. Captain Thule felt
revulsion just by looking upon these disgusting abomination, but he steeled himself for
the impending battle. “For the Great Father and the Emperor!” Captain Thule roared,
sheathing his plasma pistol and taking his sword in a two handed grip.

Chaplain Mikelus, Apothecary Gordian and Sergeant Ulyus followed their

captain, echoing the Captain’s warcry. Captain Thule cut down the first Flayed One with
a clean downward slice, and he made sure it was dead by stamping on the Necron’s
head. Mikelus was beside the Captain, his mighty Crozius Arcanum crushing one of the
Flayed Ones, but he turned around too late to stop another Flayed One from striking at
him. Razor sharp claws capable of penetrating tank armor swiped across the Chaplain’s
chestplate. Apothecary Gordian quickly cut down the offending Flayed One with his
power axe. Mikelus went straight back into the fight, ignoring his chest wound. Sergeant
Ulyus, armed with a power fist and a chainsword, quickly found out that his favoured
chainsword had little effect on the living metal of the Necrons, and he used his power
fist instead. He pummeled one of the flayed ones to the ground with his enlarged fist.

“Death comes to you, alien!” Captain Thule roared, lopping off another Necron’s
head with his sword. “No quarter!”

Sergeant UIyus scored his third kill with his powerfist, punching a Flayed One so
hard that it was propelled through the air. Captain Thule killed his fifth, stabbing his
blade straight through a Necron’s chest when suddenly he felt dread. It was a sensation
that he had not felt since fighting the Chaos Witch Morganna. It seemed the other Space
Marines were similarly affected. He looked around and saw a singular Necron standing
apart from the Flayed Ones. The Necron stood watching the progression of the Space
Marines, silently swinging its Warscyth, and Captain Thule could feel the aura emanating
from that particular Necron.

“Brother Captain. Let me destroy that monstrousity.” Sergeant Ulyus suggested,

as he saw what the Captain intended.

“Go forth and destroy the enemy, Sergeant. I’ll cover you.” Captain Thule
ordered, unsheathing his plasma pistol. “Martellus. Provide fire support for the
Sergeant.”

“Overcharging plasma gun.” Martellus deadpanned, firing the plasma gun that
he made some serious adjustments to that allowed him to increase his fire rate by more
than fifty percent. The barrage of plasma he laid down vaporized many of the Flayed
Ones while Sergeant Ulyus made his approach.

“You’re alien heresy ends this day!” Sergeant Ulyus roared, leaping into the air.

“No. Human. It is your life that ends today.” The Pariah declared.

Sergeant Ulyus was taken aback, but he quickly pushed it aside and brought his
fist down to crush the Pariah’s head. The Pariah quickly speared his Warscythe upwards
in an attempt to spear the veteran Sergeant, but Ulyus had already foreseen and
grabbed the warscythe, using it as a pole to swing around and kick the Pariah down.
Even with through the thick ceramite of the powerfist, Ulyus felt the energy emanating
from the unnatural green power source. He cried out, more in surprise than pain to
realize his powerfist’s energy field had failed.

With a loud angry roar, he drew his chainsword and swung it. The revolving edge
worked overtime as it grinded against the metal of the Warscythe that the Pariah
brought up. Gathering all the strength he could, he swapped the grip and drove his
chainsword into the Necron while holding back the warscythe with his power fist. As he
drove his weapon into the Necron, chips of shattered metal assaulted his face, but he
gritted his teeth and ignored the pain as he pushed downwards, sawing the Necron in
half. Ulyus collapsed in pain, finally overwhelmed by the damage done by the
Warscythe.

Apothecary Gordian was by the fallen brother in a flash, administering the rites
of first aid quickly. The Apothecary plunged his Narthecium into neck, pumping pain
killers and stims into the warrior to stimulate the metabolism into repairing itself.
Apothecary nodded and looked up at the captain. “He’s stable. But best keep him out of
battle for now.”

“Check Mikelus.” Captain Thule ordered, sheathing his sword. The Chaplain was
still standing, but he was walking with difficulty, and holding his hand to his chest.
Captain Thule suspected it was a grievous injury.

***

“Chaplain. You are wounded.” Apothecary Gordian stated. “I need to check you
out.”

“Just a scratch.” Chaplain Mikelus said, waving the Apothecary away.

“It’s a pretty deep scratch, Mikelus.” Gordian said, turning the Chaplain around
and inspecting the wound from one of the Flayed Ones. The claws had gouged a sizable
chunk out of the armor, and blood was present, although the wound was already
sealed. One of your primary lung is damaged, I’m going to pump some more Larramen
cells to ensure it heals properly.

“I do not intend to sit this battle out, Apothecary.” Mikelus said.

“Fortunately, you still can fight. But be careful. Your armor cannot take anymore.
I’ve cleaned and sealed the wound. You should be back to full function in a matter of
hours.”

“Thank you.” Chaplain Mikelus said, walking away.

***

“Hold your ground!” Sergeant Tarkus roared, as the impeccable enemy slowly
approached, blood and gore dripping from the flesh that hung from the skeletal metal
frame. Tarkus’ lips curled in revulsion at the sight of such a disgusting parody of the
living. “The Emperor is our light! With it destroy the shadows!”

“Destroy the enemy!” Brother Macguff roared, throwing a grenade.

 “Let the purgation begin, brothers!” someone thundered, and Tarkus turned
around and saw a flash of the gun metal grey of unpainted ceramite, as well as crackling
Nemesis Force Weapons.

A squad of ten Grey Knights charged into battle, their wrist-mounted storm
bolters spitting out a barrage of explosive shells at the Flayed Ones. A few of them
dropped, their bodies broken by the weight of the barrage. With a loud warcry, the Grey
Knights clashed with the Necrons.

The Blood Ravens watched in awe as the Grey Knights slaughtered the Flayed
Ones with relative ease. The lead Grey Knight, armed with a Halberd, quickly lopped off
a head before firing a burst into the Necron to make sure it was dead. A double headed
axe hacked another Necron in half, while a spear of fire erupted from a incinerator from
one of the Grey Knights melted a group of approaching Necrons.

“The enemies are mad and they stand before us!” another Grey Knight
thundered, crushing a Flayed One with his Nemesis Force Hammer. “Strike them down
with all your might!”

With a mighty warcry, the Blood Ravens opened fire, cutting down several of the
Necrons with a storm of fire. Sergeant Tanthius and his Terminators charged forward to
meet the remaining Flayed Ones to introduce them to their power fists and
thunderhammers. Sergeant Tanthius backhanded the first one with his powerfist,
throwing the lifeless machine away from him.

“I stand with my brothers!” someone roared, and Tarkus turned around to see
Captain Thule and his command cadre arriving amidst a hail of plasma bolts from
Techmarine Martellus. Captain Thule body slammed the closest Necron Warrior before
slicing downwards and cutting the Necron in half.

“My craft is death, alien!” Captain Thule roared, his sword crackling with energy
as he sliced through the living metal of the Necrons. “Martellus, set the bomb!”

“Right away, commander.” The Techmarine replied, “Cover me.”

“Enemy Tomb Spyder!” Sergeant Tarkus roared, “Concentrate fire!”

The Tactical Marines and Terminators opened fire, directing their fire towards
the levitating Tomb Spyder that floated ponderously towards their position. The storm
of bolt shells only bounced uselessly off the Spyder’s living metal skin, and Sergeant
Tanthius ordered one of his squad to take it out with his thunder hammer and storm
shield.
 The Assault Terminators charged, roaring a loud warcry. He swung his
thunderhammer and it impacted on the side of the Spyder, with a loud crunk. But much
to the Space Marine’s surprise, the Spyder plunged its claws into the Terminator, and
out through his back, before throwing the body away carelessly. Tarkus knew that if it
got to Techmarine Martellus, then the bomb would not be set off properly. He must
protect the Techmarine.

“I am the Emperor’s sword, honed with fury!” Sergeant Tarkus roared, charging
into battle, bolter in one hand and a grenade in his other. He stormed through green
lightning fire from the Necrons, ignoring his injuries. He was in the state of extreme
focus, with only the objective in his mind, everything else was secondary, including his
own life.

He leaped, landing on top of the Necron monstrousity. He primed the grenade

and noticed that there were no hatches for him to drop the grenade into. Instead, he
pinned it against the Spyder’s head with his own fist. The explosion threw him clear, and
he sat up in time to see the Tomb Spyder collapsing onto the ground before his
genhanced biology could not cope with all the damage he suffered and he fainted.

“Protect the Sergeant!” Brother Damon roared, rushing over to the fallen
Sergeant’s body. His plasma gun blazed with power as he fired at a group of Necron
Warriors that threatened to overrun his position. Each bolt of superheated gas struck
their mark, and each Necron Warrior fell, the damage overwhelming them for a few
moments. “The Emperor protects!”

“The charge is set. We need to leave now!” Techmarine Martellus ordered,

“Nobody gets left behind. Cover me!” Captain Thule ordered, sheathing his
sword and picking up the fallen sergeant. The Astartes provided fire as the Captain
carried Tarkus back to the Razorback transport.

“I shall not fall!” Sergeant Tarkus roared, as he regained consciousness. Captain

Thule nodded, and pressed a boltgun into the Sergeant’s hands, while he turned around
to deal with an emerging threat.

A figure of flapping robes and darkness stood ten feet above them, a massive
scythe similar to a manreaper in its left hand. Captain Thule couldn’t focus on it
properly, as though it was fading in and out of existence. He raised his plasma pistol,
dubbed the “Banisher of Night” and pulled the trigger. The bolts of superheated gas
erupted from the muzzle splashed onto the ethereal beast, and the Nightbringer
seemed to recoil at the attack.
 “My Faith is my Shield! My Fury is my Sword!” Captain Thule roared, pulling the
trigger of his plasma pistol as quickly as it allowed him to. He felt the pistol heating up
dangerously and he quickly sheathed it, taking a two handed grip on his power sword as
he charged towards the towering Nightbringer.

As he charged, the Nightbringer seemed to diminish as he got closer, and finally

disappeared, leaving the Necron Lord standing in its place. The Necron Lord leveled his
Staff of Light and blasted green lightning at him. Captain Thule dived to avoid them, and
came up with his blade slashing at the Lord.

The crackling blade sliced through the living metal of the staff, and Thule lashed
out with a kick. With his enhanced strength and his servo motors, the Necron Lord bent
double from the impact, and he brought his sword upwards, and this time the blade cut
into the Necron Lord’s head. But instead of dying, the Necron Lord backhanded the
Captain, throwing him flying.

Chaplain Mikelus charged at the Lord immediately, desperate to stop the Necron
Lord before it could do any serious damage. Thule groaned as he struggled to sit up.
Chaplain Mikelus swung his crozius Arcanum, landing a power blow upon the Necron
Lord, but the Lord seemed to have ignored the dented chest and impaled Mikelus on his
Staff of Light. Thule finally found his strength and he charged, leaping over the
Chaplain’s fallen body and plunging his sword up to the hilt into the Lord’s chest.
However, in the Lord’s death throes, it stabbed its razor sharp fingers into the Captain’s
left eye.

Sergeant Tarkus appeared out from nowhere and unleashed a point blank
barrage of bolt shells from his bolter. He dropped it and quickly dragged the Captain out
of harm’s way with his remaining arm. The other Tactical Marines rushed to their
Sergeant’s aid, and they quickly boarded the waiting Rhino.

The Necron Lord was already back on its feet, the Necrodermis quickly
regenerating in front of Tarkus’ eyes. He freed a belt of grenades and threw them into a
group of Necron Destroyers. The explosion damaged them enough for the Rhino to
escape.

“More Larramen cells!” Apothecary Gordian ordered, stabbing his narthecium

into the Captain. He tapped a few buttons and his narthecium heated to seal the wound.
“Your duty is not done, brother.”

Captain Thule groaned, and attempted to sit up. The Apothecary tapped another
button, and put the Captain into a healing coma, while he treated the others. Sergeant
Tarkus would lose his left hand for sure, and also have extensive scarring on his face as
well. Fortunately, not one progenoid gland were lost during the battle.

***

“My Lord, the living… are escaping!” Macabe wheezed, arriving at the crest of
the mountain. Then he noticed the massive plasma bomb. “My Lord! The Living has…”

The plasma bomb detonated, instantly vaporizing the Phariah before bringing
the roof down upon the slumbering Necrons, and the last Rhino managed to make it out
before the entrance collapsed. The Blood Ravens 2 nd company let out a great cheer as
the Necron tomb was finally sealed.

“Victory over death!” someone roared, and soon the Blood Ravens were
repeating their new motto.

***

The Green Coast

The Blood Ravens arrived in force, quickly disembarking from the Razorbacks and
securing the plateau that they would set their base up on. Sergeant Tarkus, now clad in
mighty Terminator armor, quickly formed the vanguard with his squad. Sergeant
Thaddeus and his Assault Squad rocketed into the air, borne upon wings of fire.

“Orks incoming!” Sergeant Thaddeus voxed, before cannoning back towards the
ground to close with the enemy.

“With me, brothers.” Sergeant Tarkus ordered, storming forward to meet the
Orks in battle.

The Orks had sent a large group to investigate the sudden arrival of the Angels of
Death. They were quickly cut down by Sergeant Thaddeus’ Assault Marines, quickly
tying up the Ork gunners in close combat, while Avitus and his Devastators leveled their
heavy weapons and let loose a massive barrage of shells at the enemy.

“Brothers! Cut down the enemy!” Captain Thule roared, raising his
thunderhammer. Despite the Apothecaries’ protest, Captain Thule had given up on bed
rest, and had his eye implanted with an augmentic and charged straight back into battle.
The Blood Ravens quickly dispatched the Orks while the Servitors set up the forward
base.

Several Thunderhawks flew overhead, sent as an attack to weaken the Ork forces
prior to the main assault. Captain Thule looked upon the gathered Blood Ravens with
pride, and knew that the Orks would soon meet their end. The Ork threat had lingered
too long, and it was high time for them to be exterminated. To prepare for the thick
jungle fighting, Captain Thule decreed that all squads must include a flamer so that they
could destroy the Ork’s cover quickly.

“Brothers! Heed me!” Captain Thule roared, standing upon a large boulder. “The
Orks are divided and fractured as their nature. This means that if we can make them
rebel, the Orks would soon fall to infighting. This is especially true with the Warboss.
Once we kill him, the Orks would soon fall into an endless civil war, making them
vulnerable.”

“Since this will be a massive undertaking, we shall attack these Ork camps in
company strength, striking quickly and disappearing before they could strike back. We
will, however, have to storm the last Ork settlement to get to the Warboss.” Captain
Thule continued. “For this battle, the First Company will join us, their firepower will be a
great asset in this battle.”

The gathered Blood Ravens cheered and they quickly reported to their company
Captains for dispatch. Sergeant Telion and his scouts quickly saluted the Captain and left
the base to scout on the Orks.

***

Telion raised a fist, and the scouts froze, quickly settling into cover around the
thick foliage. They blended perfectly into their surroundings, and the large Ork group
passed unnoticed. The Orks kept on moving…straight into a maze of proximity mines
that the scouts had laid down earlier.
 “Take them.” Telion muttered, pulling the trigger on his bolter. The stalker
silenced shells quickly dispatched the remaining Orks. “Telion to base. Ork patrol
eliminated. Moving.”

The Scouts disappeared into the jungle, leaving the dead bodies behind. They
quickly traversed the difficult terrain of the jungle, avoiding the occasional wandering
Ork. Telion gave the signal and one of the scouts lighted the pilot flame on his flamer in
preparation for the fight ahead.

“Telion to command. In position to strike.” Telion reported, before cutting the

link.

The Scout squad had come upon a large field, where a host of Orks gathered
around a large construction featuring axes and other weapons as the main
ornamentation. That was the Warboss’ banner, the only thing that kept these Orks in
line. Once the banner falls…

“Attack.” Telion ordered, firing his bolter as he broke cover. The other scouts
fired, and a spear of fire quickly ignited the wooden construction of the banner. Telion
threw a melta bomb into the face of a large Nob with spectacular results: the Ork Nob
fell backwards, his head vaporized by the bomb.

Telion backpeddled, avoiding a axe, before plunging his combat blade into the
offending Ork’s eye, before firing his bolter into the Ork in order to free his blade. He
swung his bolter and stabbed the butt bayonet into another Ork’s throat, and he twisted
it and ripped it out with a spray of blood. He had adopted a style of “violent dancing”
that he had created, especially for when he was surrounded by Orks. Its sudden jerks
and violent lunges suited to confuse and outmaneuver his foes.

The Waagh banner had been burned to the ground, and it was time for the
scouts to disappear once more. Telion threw down a smoke grenade and quickly slipped
out of the grasp of the Ork horde. All of the other hand picked scouts also made their
way towards the designated rendezvous point.

“Telion to command. The Big Choppaz clan is eliminated.” Telion reported calmly
as he turned around for the last time.

The Orks already had forgotten about the scouts, and instead was fighting
amongst themselves, each claiming to be the Warboss. As a Ork’s nature, the only way
to assert oneself is by violence, and violence is what they do best.
 ***

“Borne upon wings of fire, we descend upon our foes.” Captain Thule roared, as
he soared through the air, over the crude fence that the Orks had constructed. The
assault squads of 2nd and 3rd company followed, screaming warcries and litanies of war.

The Orks were taken by surprise by this thunderous assault, as the Blood Ravens
made their landing. The Assault Marines quickly closed distances with the Orks. This
particular clan has a high concentration of Mek boys, hence many of the boyz were
armed with shootas, instead of axes. Captain Thule had taken this into consideration,
and had decided to deploy assault squads to attack the Orks.

Sergeant Derrick and his squad provided fire support with their plasma guns and
flamers as the other Assault Marines plowed into the Orks with their weapons. Captain
Thule slammed his thunderhammer into the first Ork that he encountered, and with an
explosion of blood and bones, the Orks flew backwards. He raised his left arm to protect
himself as a Ork emptied his shoota at him. The large caliber rounds pinged off his
armor, and Captain Thule lashed out with his thunderhammer, crushing the large shoota
and sending the Orks flying.

Sergeant Thaddeus led his Assault Marines with unmatched zeal, his twin
lightning claws slashing through flesh and armor alike and he aimed only for the big
ones, the Nobs as a testimony to his skills.

“My Faith is my shield! My fury is my sword!” Sergeant Thaddeus roared, as he

leaped to engage one of the Ork Dreadnoughts.

Hobbled together by Ork Mekboyz, these crude walkers looked as if it was held
together by rust and prayers. However, they were deadly with their sadistic claws and
sawblades. Sergeant Thaddeus landed on top of one of such walkers, and he
immediately plunged his lightning claws into the joints of the walker’s arms. The
energized blades sliced through the metal, quickly severing the arm from the Deff
Dread. Thaddeus quickly did the same to the other arm, before slapping a melta bomb
onto the limbless Deff Dread.

The Blood Ravens cheered as the Deff Dread exploded, and a few more followed.
Captain Thule fired his jetpack and flew towards the Waagh banner. He slammed his
warhammer into one of the support struts, and it crumbled and snapped. The poorly
constructed tower quickly collapsed under its own weight, and the Blood Ravens quickly
rocketed away as the Orks fell into infighting.
 “And borne upon wings of fire, we slip from our enemies’ grip.” Captain Thule
said, inciting laughter from the Astartes.

***

The battle was going good for the Blood Ravens, two Ork clans out of the
equation and still no casualties. The next objective was a plateau that was religiously
important to the Orks. Sergeant Tarkus the Terminators are on their way to secure it,
while Sergeant Telion infiltrated deeper into the jungle to hunt for the other lieutenants
of the Warboss.

None could escape the wrath of the Angels of Death

***

The massive Land Raiders forded the river easily, rolling onto the opposite shore,
before opening its assault ramp. Scores of First Company Veterans and Terminators
stormed out from the tanks and advanced onto the enemy.

“Waagh! Dem Spess Mehreenz are here!” a Ork wailed before being cut down by
a tirade of shells from the advancing First Company Blood Ravens.

The Astartes stormed the plateau quickly, cutting down the Orks, who strangely,
instead of running, stood their ground and fought with a ferocity that matched the
Astartes’ fury.

Tarkus fired relentless, pouring bolt shells into target after target as they charged
him, hoping to overwhelm him with their numbers. But Sergeant Tarkus knew his duty,
and he would never shirk in the face of the enemy. He stood his ground, calmly deliver
the Emperor’s vengeance into the Orks until they reached him. He stabbed forward with
his lightning claw, slashing an Ork’s chest open. But the beast did not die there, and it
struggled for a few moments even after having its heart ripped out.

“By the Throne, these beasts are hard to kill.” Tarkus heard one of the Battle
brothers proclaim.
 Tarkus had to agree, after pouring a dozen rounds into some of the larger ones,
they still fought on, as if they did not know that their guts were hanging out. At least the
plasma guns that the Veterans carried were effective against the Orks.

“Death to the xenos!” Sergeant Dailek roared, as his squad of Devastators

brought forth their heavy firepower. The roars of the heavy bolters and meltas was
accompanied by the war cries of the First Company in battle.

The loud, uncouth roars of the Orks rose as well, and Tarkus could make out the
words “gork” and “Mork” and the occasional “Waagh!”. He grinded his teeth at the
sound of such primitive and raw aggression from the Orks, but he steeled himself, and
advanced steadily with his squad, gaining ground against the Orks.

The First Company quickly planted their standard atop the plateau, and the
others quickly dug in, in preparation for the inevitable counter attack. Tarkus and his
squad shifted several large boulders in order to create cover. Techmarine Martellus
arrived to reinforce their perimeter with turrets and proximity mines.

“Incoming!” Techmarine Martellus warned, looking up from his auspex.

Tarkus heard another terrible, crude warcry, and looked up at the sky to see a
horde of Orks, flying towards them, with crude rockets riveted to their backs propelling
them through the air.

“Eyes to the skies!” Tarkus warned, raising his storm bolter and letting loose a
barrage of shells. The auspex built into his armor allowed him to track his targets,
despite the speed that the Orks were travelling at. Many Orks exploded in mid-air as
bolt shells struck the rockets that the Orks were using.

Then the remaining Orks crash landed amongst the Terminators, literally. Several
of them broke their necks and spines and were forced to lay on the ground impotently
for the fight. Tarkus met the enemy head on, stabbing his lightning claws forward, while
firing his storm bolter into another Orks. An Ork axe bounced off his helmet, barely
scratching the paintwork. The Ork roared with anger and swung again, and this time
Tarkus raised an arm to block the blow.

The revolving edge of the axe grinded into the ceramite of the armor, propelling
tiny shards of shrapnel flying. Tarkus shoved his storm bolter into the stomach of the
offending Ork and pulled the trigger until the Ork dropped dead. He reloaded quickly,
taking the pause to survey the battle. The lightning quick assault very quickly removed
the Blood Raven’s advantages of being dug in, but the Orks were being introduced to
the Terminator’s superior strength.

“The Chapter Banner!” someone cried, and Tarkus turned around and saw a Ork
Nob uprooting the sacred banner from the ground. Tarkus blinked at an icon in his HUD
and disappeared in a flash of lightning. He reappeared next to the Nob, and slashed the
greenskin’s back open. The Nob turned around, the sacred standard of the First
Company still in his hand. Tarkus dropped his storm bolter and ripped it out of the
greenskin’s hand, and he quickly stabbed the sharp end into the Nob’s throat. The Nob
choked to death and Tarkus continued to drive it deeper, following it in until it was
upright on the ground.

The Blood Ravens cheered at the sight of their standard flying high once more,
and Sergeant Tarkus stood by the standard, making sure it does not fall the second time.
A massive Nob charged through the Ork horde, fury in his eyes, heading for Tarkus. The
Sergeant raised his storm bolter and delivered round after round into the frenzied
greenskin, but despite the grievous injuries that the explosive bolt shells caused.

“Waagh!” the Nob roared loudly, as he swung his crude hammer at the Sergeant.
Tarkus felt himself lift off as the hammer connected. He recovered quickly, raising his
lightning claw, only to realize that the generator must have failed. The Ork headbutted
Tarkus and he recoiled, stars flashing in his vision.

“The Emperor protects!” Tarkus roared, charging back at the Nob, his storm
bolter roaring in his hand. He punched his claws at the Ork. The bare plasteel blade only
scratched at the surface of the crude armor that the Nob was wearing. Tarkus growled
with anger and frustration, before diverting more power to the servos in his arms. He
swung again, this time the blades punched into the xeno’s stomach. He twisted it and
the Ork seemed to only grimace in pain. He pointed his storm bolter upward and fired,
but only two rounds exploded out of the muzzle before it clicked dry.

The Nob was still alive, despite having its head blown half off, and Tarkus
sheathed his storm bolter and punched the Nob again and again until the Nob dropped
dead. Tarkus lifted the body and snapped its back across his knees, before raising the
carcass high.

“For the Emperor!” Tarkus roared, throwing the body at the horde of Orks. The
Blood Ravens roared their assent at the sight of the Sergeant. Tarkus quickly rejoined
the ranks of the Terminators as they began the systematic slaughter of the Orks.
 “No quarter!” someone roared, and Tarkus repeated the warcry, his storm bolter
adding to the din of the battle. Then Tarkus heard a different note, and checked his
auspex. Large heat signatures were heading their way.

“Squiggoths!” someone reported. Squiggoths were massive war beasts,

comparable to a Warhound Titan; they were armed with Orkish contraptions and often
rampaged through enemy lines.

“Land Raiders to the fore!” Sergeant Tarkus roared, suddenly feeling that his
storm bolter was useless against the monstrous beasts.

The ancient Land Raiders drove forward to meet the enemy in battle. Their
lascannons flashed, punching clean holes through the Squiggoth’s armor and flesh alike,
while their storm bolters raked through the ranks of the Orks that followed behind the
beasts. The First Company cheered at the sight of the relic units of the Blood Ravens go
into war, and they quickly added their firepower into the mix.

One of the Squiggoths roared in pain, before toppling over, stirring up a flurry of
dust. Another Squiggoth’s top mounted weapon fired, an arc of lightning that connected
with the lead Land Raider tank, and it exploded into a bright orange. Even Tarkus was
stunned by the destruction. It took a lot to even scratch the armor of a Land Raider, and
yet here it was, the Ork’s crude technology so easily destroying their best.

“The enemy is overwhelming us! We need assistance!” Tarkus heard the first
Sergeant vox.

“Roger that. Reinforcements inbound.” A deep voice replied.

A pair of Drop Pods crashed into the crowd of Orks, and two Dreadnoughts were
dislodged from the transport. Power claws grabbed up and threw away dead Ork
bodies. One of them tackled a Squiggoth with its power claw, and the Squiggoth keened
in pain as the Dreadnought employed its underslung melta.

One of the Squiggoths charged Raylnor, who dug its feet in and punched the
Squiggoth. Ralynor skidded a few metres, his adamantine shell protecting him from
harm. However, the power claw had connected solidly with the Squiggoth’s head, and
the Dreadnought violently ripped the beast’s head off.

“Greenskins…only…deserve…death…” Ralynor wheezed, throwing the very dead

head at the Orks.
 ***

“Drive into the Greenskins!” Captain Thule roared, pulling the trigger of the
storm bolter that he was manning, sending a storm of firepower towards the Orks. The
Razorback accelerated, and Thule felt a bump as the APC rolled over the Orks.

The rest of the convoy engaged the scattering Orks, pintle mounted storm
bolters and turreted heavy bolters firing away at the enemy.

“Waagh! The humies are here! Get to the trukks!” Captain Thule heard one of
the Orks roar.

“Send them in!” Captain Thule voxed. Overhead, six Thunderhawks roared
overhead, touching down quickly and dislodging a fleet of assault bikes gunned out from
the hold of the specially adapted Thunderhawks. The bikes roared as they crashed onto
the ground, their twin mounted heavy bolters spitting out explosive shells at the
approaching Ork vehicles.

The Razorbacks were right behind the assault bikes, arrayed in a skirmish line
and they rolled towards the enemy vehicles. Several Razorbacks had twin linked
lascannons and they gutted several enemy trukks with ease, punching through the thin
armor of the Ork vehicles with ease.

“Cut through them!” Captain Thule roared, firing his storm bolter with great
gutso, his barrage smashing through windshields and cutting into Orks. A trio of missiles
whooshed past him, and he knew that Avitus and his Devastators were lending their
firepower to the battle. The missiles smashed into three different wartrukks,
transforming them into massive fireballs.

“The Emperor protects!” Avitus roared, as a Ork trukk barreled towards him. The
Sergeant calmly lifted his missile launcher and fired. The missile detonated on the front
of the hastily thrown together vehicle, the explosion throwing it back.

The Assault Bikes, led by Sergeant Telion, quickly executed a sharp u-turn and
came upon the rear of the Ork vehicles. “Give it another go.” Telion ordered, prepping a
melta bomb. His bike passed by one of the larger wartrukks, and he quickly slapped the
explosive onto the vehicle. The Orkish vehicle quickly transformed into a large fireball.
 “Enemy armor sighted.” Telion reported gruffly, throwing his bike into a skid
towards the stolen Leman Russ.

The Leman Russ was heavily bastardized with Orkish fetishes, as well as graffiti
and spikes seemed to be a favorite of the décor. Telion rolled, freeing another melta
bomb from his belt and quickly slapping it against the side of the Leman Russ. The
veteran Sergeant sprinted away and the Looted Tank exploded, and unfortunately, the
Sergeant caught a piece of shrapnel in his leg. He stumbled, but continued moving
towards the Razorback.

“I got you, Sergeant.” Captain Thule voxed, his Razorback rolling forward, the
front hatch opening to allow the Sergeant to board the vehicle. Apothecary Gordian
flocked immediately to the wounded Sergeant and quickly applied the necessary first
aid. “This is Captain Thule. Advance and destroy the rest of the enemy vehicles.”

The Razorback advanced, pushing on the Ork vehicles. The Ork vehicles
responded with all their firepower, and yet their crude munitions failed to penetrate the
Razorbacks’ armor. Suddenly, Thule heard several whooshes! And one of the Razorback
exploded into a ball of fire.

“Enemy anti-tank! Rokkit boys!” one of the Razorbacks reported. “Engaging the
enemy.”

“Negative! Pull back into a defensive line and allow Sergeant Avitus to engage.”
Captain Thule ordered. The Razorback pulled back hastily, as more tank busta Boyz
broke cover and charged. Several of them were armed with crude rocket launchers and
others held stickbomms as weapons.

“Take the enemy! Don’t let them close!” Avitus roared, leveling his missile
launcher. He had loaded frag missiles to deal with the mass enemy infantry. He
switched to “air bursting” mode to ensure maximum casualties. He fired, and two more
missiles followed his example, while the heavy bolters unleashed a barrage that forced
many of the Orks to retreat to cover or be cut down by the relentless rate of fire. “No
quarter!”

***
 The First Company had just held off the second Ork counterattack, and they were
digging in preparation. Several casualties were sustained after the assault from the
Squiggoths, which could have broken the lines of Terminators if not for the timely arrival
of the Dreadnoughts. Both Dreadnoughts had sustained damage, and at the
Techmarine’s insistence, both were transported back to the Battle Barge for repairs.
Instead, two squads of Devastators and a single Whirlwind tank reinforced their
position.

Sergeant Tarkus’ squad had been sent ahead to scout out the enemy position
and strength, and they had only encountered small pockets of enemy resistance, and
Tarkus suspected the Orks were up to something. They foraged deeper into enemy
territory, trying to locate the bulk of the enemy forces. Suddenly, a buzzing filled the air,
and several Ork Weirdboyz appeared in front of them, wielding fetish laden fighting
staffs.

“Ork psykers! Take them out!” Tarkus roared, his storm bolter already firing. The
other six Terminators fired as well, sending a spread of explosive shells towards the
psyker. However, some kind of shield was summoned and the shells exploded uselessly
against it. There was some more loud buzzing, and ordinary Orks appeared beside the
psyker.

“This is Sergeant Tarkus, requesting cyclone missile fire support! Designating

targets! Infantry targets to the fore! Fire for effect!”

Moments later, dozens of cyclone missiles crashed and detonated amongst the
gathered Orks, killing and disorienting many of the Orks. Moments later, it became a
rout, and the Orks retreated after the psyker was killed from a burst from Jackson’s
flamer.

“Sergeant Tarkus here. We’ve encountered Ork psykers. Pulling back to the line
now.”