Extract III

From the archives of Lexicanium Eraldus, of Watch Fortress Erioch, on the exploits of the Deathwatch kill team 'The angels' on the planet Avalos

"I can pulp your flesh and snap your bones in less than a second, and without so much as lifting a finger. What is the power of technology compared to that.¨

Vel’cona, Chief Librarian of the Salamanders.

¨Brothers.¨ Skold looks over his companions as a doting father looks over his cubs ¨Time is against us, even now the shadow of the warp grows ever closer, we must move quickly to send for assistance, lest we be trapped on this forsaken world.¨ ¨Agreed¨ The brothers nod in unison, each bearing the scratches and marks from many battles this bleak night in Lordsholm. ¨Let us not waste time with idle chatter then brother¨ States Octavius plainly, ¨Onward to the Governors mansion¨.

The crackle of the vox interrupts the brothers for a moment as the familiar voice of Syndalla pipes out an urgent plea. ¨Brothers, I have received word from the PDF Base that they are under siege from a substantial rebel force and that they cannot hold out much longer. Our forces are stretched too thinly to assist and if the PDF base were to be liberated it would free up many more units who could help to re-take this entire region.¨ She continues ¨It is your decision brothers as your primary objective must still be to call for aid, but I fear without some form of intervention we could lose a substantial strongpoint for this region and could find ourselves fighting a battle from both sides.¨ Elyas swings out into a nearby wall, crashing through it leaving a huge hole. ¨This is all we need.¨ He snarls, as troubled folds form on Brother Skold’s brow. Looking skyward Skold thinks for a moment, letting the rain cool his face and momentarily taking him away from the bleakness of their situation. ¨We must try to assist brothers¨ He finally states ¨It is the will of the Emperor; Lordsholm must not be allowed to fall into Xenos hands. If we have to fight this war by ourselves without help, then we will have us such a glorious end that our songs shall be heard for millennia!¨. ¨Hail¨ the brother’s salute one another and they are joined in their fate. ¨Let us be brief though¨ Skold continues ¨I propose we only assist if it can be done quickly and without a protracted battle, we cannot be drawn from our mission for too long, but I feel we can strike a decisive blow that will give us and the PDF a chance, however slim, to tip the balance in their favour.¨ The brothers form up and move out, heading back onto the mag lines attempting to get as close to both the PDF base and the boundary of the Magistria district as possible.

As the train made its way high above the warehouses the brothers saw for the first time the size of the force that lay siege to the PDF base and immediately knew what needed to be done. Three large Medusa siege guns relentlessly strike the wounded base, whimpering under the strain, the brothers could see that the walls would not last long. They agreed that their best course of action would be to knock out those guns and so give the PDF a welcome break and some time to recover and shore up their defences. Quickly the marines disembark from the train and head across through the debris and buildings towards the base. Evidence of fighting is far worse here than anywhere the brothers had seen so far as they negotiated burning buildings and piles of bodies and wreckages in the streets. As they got closer the brothers could see that this battle had been going on for some time, as the area in front of the base lay as a wasteland of shells, craters and death. Huge cracks could be seen in the armour of the base as the relentless barrage hammers the beleaguered building, so the brothers act decisively formulating a plan to disable the guns. The plan was to approach from the south west under cover of nearby buildings and then to infiltrate onto a high floor of a nearby building so as to be able to take a clear shot at the ammo containers of the guns. It was a daring plan that relied almost entirely on luck as much as the great skills of the marines.

Scouting ahead of the group brother Elyas made his way through the wind and rain and tangled wreckage to get as close to the battle as he dared. Spotting a group of rebel guards on watch in some cover at the rear of the main units he quickly made his attack, making short work of the heretics to his mighty power fist. The way was clear then for Skold and Sepheran to take positions on the right hand side of the field. The rain had now been falling for hours and especially along the canal walking had become almost treacherously slippery. Climbing wreckage in order to cross the wide canal Skold, Sepheran and Octavius attempt to make a crossing but unfortunately Skold and Sepheran slip and fall into the canal. Luckily Elyas and Octavius are able to pull them out of the mud and blood streaked polluted water but otherwise they are unharmed. The brothers are relieved as the noise of the fall fails to attract the attention of the rebels and quickly move to take positions on in the nearby buildings. In one coordinated strike the brothers let loose and through the light of the emperor their aim is good, destroying all 3 guns in a matter of moments and sending the horde of rebels into a rage. The shots had come out of nowhere so the initial volley of return fire was near useless. This gave the brothers valuable time to exit the buildings and use a screen of smoke grenades (wisely retrieved earlier from the stores) to cover their escape. Calling Syndalla they send for their remaining backup units from the Chapel for support and as they rush to escape, Sepheran is caught by heavy stubber fire peppering the building he and Skold had fired from. He is not badly injured however and is able to run. On the other side of the battlefield Elyas, who had impatiently watched the other brothers, destroying the Medusa cannons takes off and leaves Octavius behind to escape the building. Octavius runs out the building and seeing the rebels closing quickly sets a trap in a narrow alley between two buildings, a 'frag-mine' for the crowd to stumble upon and so cause lethal damage. Turrets blazing, 2 PDF Chimeras arrive south of the canal concentrating their fire into one of the rebel masses, sending bodies and limbs flying. Skold and Sepheran keep low as the turret fire covers their escape and quickly hurry towards the only piece of debris stretched far enough over the canal that is possible to jump as the rebels follow, shouting and cursing behind them.

Bursting around the corner as Octavius just moves out of the way the rebels run straight into the grenade trap and Octavius’s waiting bolter fire. The momentary distraction gives Octavius enough time to leap over the canal but he misses his footing and falls head first into the water. More rebels pour round the corner firing at the vulnerable Octavius peppering the water around him as he swims desperately towards Elyas and the southern side of the canal. Elyas pulls him out and they both dive behind cover as more rebels pour round the corners firing at the marines. The rebels are closing in and it looks likely that they will head off Skold and Sepheran before they are able to reach the makeshift bridge, blocking their escape. Octavius and Elyas concentrate their fire, and with support from the PDF tanks still firing into the rebels, sends one of the rebel groups running. Effortlessly Sepheran makes the leap onto the makeshift bridge and holds out his hand to assist Skold, but the weight of his damp pelts and slippery surface compound Skold's efforts to jump and he once again falls into the canal to be pulled out the other side by Sepheran. As more and more rebels rush around the corners of the buildings Skold plants a grenade onto the makeshift bridge to ensure that the pursuit is ended. A heavy handed approach but it works and lucky for the marines the debris blows away from them onto the north side of the canal where it clatters to the ground with an mighty crash. The brothers then quickly withdraw under a hail of stubber fire whilst Syndalla confirms that the final PDF support unit is close by. Skold attempts to contact the PDF base via the open vox channel but is met with static and then a strangely muted response. Exhausted as the PDF would have been there was something else bothering the young soldier as he sought to articulate his suspicions of Xenos contamination within the base. Skold advised them to stand by and await relief, as when the brothers had completed their primary objective they would be able to assist but in the meantime to conduct a sweep and purge the infestation.

Managing to get back to the rail line the brothers quickly head up to the Magistria district to seek an urgent audience with the governor. Syndalla advises them to be extremely cautious as the whole area is in lock-down with not a soul heading in or out. Approaching in narrow streets the brothers are struck by the lack of apparent combat this area has seen, and once they are at the gate Skold bravely decides to talk to the guards not knowing if they are infected and risking his life in the process. The PDF are nervous, jittery and suspicious of Skold and proclaim they are under orders of Governor Thorsholt to let no-one into the district. Calling the bluff of the PDF and with a slight threat in his voice Skold manages to convince the watchman that their team are not alone and an orbital bombardment is only a short call away. The PDF changes his mind instantly opening the door to let the brothers in and apologising profusely. The watchman organises a chauffeur driven APC to get the brothers to the manor and the brothers are welcomed inside openly. Inside the district it is like stepping into a different world as they drive through parks and well lit streets in a leafy sleepy suburb. The brothers are disgusted and appalled at how the governor could have left his people to such a horrific fate. It is only looking out at the top of the hill that the brothers are reminded of the devastation below and the fights still raging in the west of the city.

Entering via the main gate the lavish opulence continues as the long drive meanders up to the mansion, high above the rest of the city, where a huge golden statue of the emperor stands sentinel opposite the huge metal and wooden doors to the mansion. The doors to the APC are opened by a mild mannered butler who politely shows them inside the house and through a dramatic hallway dominated by two giant staircases that head up to the upper floors. Huge banners drape from the walls and paintings hang on the landing of Governor Thorsholt in various dramatic poses whilst the pristine marble floor is emblazoned with the two headed eagle of the Imperium. Led into the main hall the brothers see hundreds of brightly dressed dignitaries, all conversing and laughing as if the end of their world was just a film, showing on a wall behind them. The music and sounds of chatter cease upon the brothers arrival, all that is but one. Swishing a glass of brandy in one hand and with the other stroking his wispy beard, Governor Thorsholt loudly talks nonsense to a couple who look at him thinking he must be mad to still be talking as if the brothers were invisible. Skold manages somehow to keep his cool and restrain Octavius as the Governor tries to deny everything. When Thorsholt realizes the brothers are not going to be leaving any time soon he agrees to at least speak to them in private. Announcing his guests to head into the dining room and await the main course Thorsholt takes the brothers upstairs to the first floor and his private study. Opening the door the light mysteriously does not work. Shaking a torch from his pocket he brings it up just in time to see the face of a Genestealer looking back at him, grabbing and taking him inside the room. Sepheran acts quickest and after shouting a battle call to Sanguinius for divine aid dives into the darkness after the alien. At this point the brothers are alerted to noises above them and turn around just in time to see 5 more Genestealers approaching from the shadows above. A crash and screaming from downstairs is evidence that there may be more. Elyas engages his jump pack and shoots skyward with such force that he launches straight through an incoming stealer, killing it outright. The other stealers drop down and one makes a heavy slash into Octavius. The cut is deep and he collapses from the shock and pain, passing out. Elyas and Skold cry out for their brother and despatch another stealer each while Sepheran and the stealer engage in a desperate duel in the the darkness. As the brothers fight they hear sounds of terror and death on the ground floor as Genestealers rip into the defenceless guests. Hearing these horrific sounds Elyas jumps downstairs in a desperate attempt to intercept the invaders only to find a lone stealer feasting on the flesh of its latest victim, still warm in its claws. Elyas lets out a battle cry and steels himself as the stealer runs towards him. They clash again and again, moving back and forth and trading blows, each nearly cancelling the other out. Skold manages to finish off his foe and jumps down the stairwell to aid Elyas. Sepheran desperately tries to hold off the Stealer while Thorsholt cowers under his desk and only barely manages to escape its savage talons. Finally Sepheran’s Chainsword strikes true and the satisfying crunch of Xenos carapace crumpling under superior strength gives Sepheran momentary relief. The Red thirst then descends on Sepheran as the emotion of the fight takes over and he is compelled to rip the heart from the monster and drink its blood whilst Thorsholt screams in horror and blubbers like a terrified child . Skold rushes down the stairs spotting a second Genestealer stalking Elyas. With a quick warning from Skold Elyas is able to swerve and avoid the thrashing claws of the second attacker as it dives into the frantic combat. The two Stealers catch Elyas's armour, causing minor wounds before Skold finally rounds the corner and sends bolter fire ripping through one of the enemy. Catching the second xeno flat footed Elyas is then able to get a swift strike to the side of its head, knocking it to the ground before pummelling the creature’s skull into the stone floor, exploding it like a balloon. Seeing Octavius out cold Sepheran tends to him with the Medicae kit and luckily manages to revive him. Weakened but angry by the whole encounter Octavius storms into the office and finds Thorsholt clutching a letter from Inquisitor Kalistradi. It seems the governor did know about everything that is happening but chose not to do anything about it and hole up in the Magistria district with a large percentage of the Lordsholm PDF force. To Octavius this is a heretical and unforgivable act and he declares that the Governor is no longer in charge and that this is now a military controlled zone. Babbling incoherently Thorsholt regains his composure enough to agree to Octavius's demands, including allowing access to the Astropath Elsharna. Elyas completes a sweep of the ground flood and gardens to find the guests that remain panicking and trying to leave, piling into their cars and driving uncontrolled away, others just screaming and running on foot. After securing the area the brothers emerge with Thorsholt, leading them swiftly o the 'house of echoes' and the Astropath.

Resting on a narrow outcrop that at certain times of day is cut off from the mainland is the tower named 'the house of echoes'.  An imposing gothic structure made all the more dramatic by the swirling thunder clouds above the brothers and rows of torches leading down the cliff via a rough path. The house is guarded by a regiment of honour guard who have psychically warded the Astropath Elsharna in her tower. As they approach Governor Thorsholt commands the opening of the tower and one of the guards presses his hand upon the great oak door, concentrating for a moment before the door opens by itself. The brothers are led into the tower, a cold empty space that seems to be filled with millions of psychic voices reverberating around the walls in an infinite echo. Thorsholt unlocks the doors to her chamber and ushers the brothers in. The room of the Astropath is plainly decorated, with a modest bed and little other furnishings. Elsharna kneels by the window looking out with her back from the brothers, but addresses them by name without turning her head, she is tells them she has foreseen their coming and asks that they are brief, for she does not know how much longer the link to the outside will remain before being swallowed by the shadow of the warp. Brother Skold imparts the brother’s urgent need to send a message for reinforcements, which Elsharna agrees to do. She explains that the message is a ritual that will take an hour to prepare during which time she must not be disturbed else the message would be wasted and that the process is extremely tiring for her, meaning the brothers must protect her at all costs.

The silence is broken by the sounds of explosions and battle from the house and as the brothers close the door to her room they see Elsharna turns to face the ever darkening sky and mouth the words…

¨Beneath the son where the invisible air burns, the lord of darkness sleeps in death.¨