DEATHWATCH
MISSION VI: HERESY
(From the eyes of the Wolf)
My keen eyes fell on the Servitor entering my quarters, beaming a message of summons to the Armoury. It is not that I was annoyed by the summons more that I had just finished mounting the rest of my trophies from previous Deathwatch missions on the wall. My collection was quite a sight now, between my service here and on Fenris. A wall dedicated to battle, much like the necklace that adorned my neck during countless battles. It was a simple item, a small leather cord with a single fang on it. Only I know its true past, but many have spoken tails of how I pulled it from an encounter with a Kraken back on Fenris. I mention that creature often but say no more on the subject ever besides its name, it is both my reward and my burden. Regardless of its history, its real purpose was for good luck. It is my battle talisman, one that has gone unscathed in combat, and each time I has survived while wearing it round my neck. I exited my chambers, ready for whatever mission may lie ahead.
I enter the Armoury, already knowing Vlad would not be on this mission. His mind was lost in the Warp, and they were uncertain if he would ever wake. Trifling with powers such as those is dangerous, I have slain many Psykers to know the infectious power it holds. Rune and Broteus stood firm as I entered, while Captain Magnus looked over some intel, most likely pertaining to the summons. As he looked up from his work, I nodded to him, signaling that I was ready for combat as soon as we were briefed. With a stern nod, he began detailing our orders.
"It would seem your presence on Eleusis is wanted once more. A Relay Tower has gone silent and there are no scouts in the area to report on its whereabouts. You three seem to be quite capable of handling uncertain missions, I would dare say the Emperor favors you lot. So, I have decided that this mission suits your particular abilities. Rune will be the most valuable of the bunch, sorry Skold. He is a Techmarine and therefore crucial if something has damaged the station, being able to repair it faster than the others. You will take a Thunderhawk down to the surface, find the Relay Tower, assess the situation, and, if able, get it back online. It is in a remote part of the planet, surround by canyons, and Tyranid. This happens to be right in their path of invasion, which is why this is even more imperative. We need that building to monitor their advancement, and to know whether the planet is salvageable or not. This is a delicate mission, so I would prefer Brother Broteus to take command. His tactical mind will serve most useful. You have your Requisition and your instructions, may the Emperor stand between you and harm in all the empty places you must walk."
Rune, Brotheus, and I meet at the Thunderhawk, war gear in hand. Broteus has been chosen to lead this mission, a wise choice considering his crafty mind. Even though we of the Rout prefer gritty combat, we appreciate a mind dedicated to it more. Aboard the transport, we ready ourselves as the pilot, a White Scar who we had deployed with us previously, secured the cargo for our mission, then made his way to the cockpit. As we lifted off, I could not help but feel irritated by the Space Marine, who had not even acknowledged our presence.
As we burned down through the atmosphere, something fell in the cockpit, Broteus noticing it as well. Rune was busy going over his effects and had not noticed it, but I did not want to alarm him if this did not warrant an action. Descending down through the planets dusty skies, the pilot moved out from behind his controls and picked up the loose item. "Drop something, Brother?" I asked as the ship continued its descent, my eyes never moving from his position. He stepped further into the room, clutching a peculiar box, adorned with symbols and runes. Broteus confirmed my suspicion, yelling "Heretic" as he attempted to remove the harness holding him. "Vileheart sends his regards...Brothers," the traitorous Space Marine uttered, opening the box and unleashing a well hidden bomb, tearing the front portion of the ship asunder. Rune was now very aware, the explosion clueing him in on what just transpired. I was furiously holding on to the Black Templars arm, keeping him from being thrown out. As he fixed his straps back around himself, I grasped my helmet and put it on, knowing this landing may be a hard one. Rune followed suit, clamping his servo arm against the hull, bracing himself in quite well. We watched as the ground crept closer and closer faster and faster, the canyons below snaking together rapidly as we spun further and further out of control. Then, we caught the edge of a jagged cliff face, shattering the ship in all directions, tossing us out with the carnage and into unknown territory.
I awoke to the sounds of raging winds rushing over me, howling through the canyon around me. My armour seemed intact, as did my weapon and gear. I removed my helmet, thankful for the protection it had provided but knowing it had completed its mission for the time being. I scoured the area I was stranded in but found no sign of the Kill Team. I decided to follow my senses, leading me out into the winding labyrinth of a gorge.
As I traveled, I kept my wits about me. These winds would cause my heightened sense of smell to be limited, therefore not allowing me to notice peculiar things, such as the stench of the enemy. Briefly, I saw the silhouette of a being standing atop one of the cliffs, but when I trained my heavy bolter upon it, I found nothing. "Do you copy?" a voice cracks through the vox link in my collar, forcing me to ignore the shifting shadows momentarily. "I read you, Broteus," I replied, looking around for any sign of him or the enemy. "What is your position?" he asked me, trying to assess the situation. "I have been traveling against the wind for a few clicks now," I told him, continuing my pace as I saw something worthwhile in the distance. "I think I may have found the crash site. Have you located Rune yet?" I take the left fork, trying to discern where the smoke was exactly billowing from, but my sight was limited. "No," Broteus messages over the communication system. "I think I may being followed. Have you seen any enemies?" I had not, other than that odd shadow earlier, I had seen nothing. This was troubling to me. The area was being encroached upon by the Hive Fleet Dagon, yet I had seen no trace of any Tyranid nor any sign that they had been here. The Emperor must be smiling upon us, especially considering I have just found Rune.
After waking the somehow unscathed Techmarine, we searched the area thoroughly, locating some of the cargo that was needed for repair of the Relay Station. However, in the mayhem, Rune had lost all of his weapons save for his Sacris claymore, and that powerful servo arm of his. Though, I cannot remember a time that he had ever used it in combat, which has led me to believe that he does not want to upset the machine spirit inside with improper use. Together, we headed back the way I had traveled, leaving the dead end with only debris and small fuel fires.
At the three fork passageway I had split off of earlier, we met up with Broteus, who had somehow figured out which way we were located. Crafty indeed. With the Kill Team complete, we set off down the only fork passage left, leading us right to the wreckage. I took overwatch as Rune and Broteus covered ground, searching for supplies and weapons. They managed to muster up more of the missing cargo but found nothing more. "I only searched briefly in the area I landed," the Tactical Marine stated, his eyes scanning the area for any missed clues or signs, whether it be hostile or helpful. "I did however see the Relay Station, so I know which way we need to take to get there." Without delay, we left the remains of the Thunderhawk, Rune taking one last look at it and shaking his head before we departed.
We followed the gorge and the winds gale for some time before finding Broteus' landing sight. It was covered in shrapnel and smoke, which impressed me that he had somehow survived this ordeal AND found our location under such extreme circumstances. Once again, I took watch as the they combed the area, locating more cargo and the Missile Launcher we had taken aboard. "We still have not found all of our missing gear or cargo," our Squad Leader said, his helmet aimed toward the Tower in the distance. "But I fear we are running out of time, being exposed and underequipped in enemy territory. Let us be off, the Relay Tower needs our assistance." With Rune loaded up with cargo, carried by his servo arm, his hands clasped firmly on his claymore, we made our way toward the disabled structure, unsure of what we would find.
Along the way, we caught more glimpses of a solitary shadow, darting or fading away each time we focused on its location. Yet, we still had not seen a single tangible enemy, and this was starting to make me uncomfortable. Finally, we reached the stairs leading up to the massive building, which sat dark and unmoving, the terrible wind assailing it constantly. Broteus ordered us into a tighter formation, the Kill Team moving swiftly and cautiously up the stairs to the Station.
Outside, there were no signs of techpriests, servants, soldiers, or defenses. It seemed abandoned. Without delay, Rune worked on the entry pad to open the doors, while Broteus and I stood guard. The large doors opened, the dark interior greeting us coldly. Rune and Broteus stepped inside, assessing the situation and looking for friend or foe. I stood outside, alone, my back against the open maw of the dead Tower. In the distance, just as Broteus managed to get the first flicker of power for the Station, I saw something stir. As if answering the call of the machine, a massive ripper swarm rushed out of a cave opening, wedged high up on the wall of an adjacent cliff. "What is the status?" I asked, readying my heavy bolter. "Rune has found the interior system that needs repairs," the Black Templar replied as he stepped up behind me."The building is clear. No sign of life." I pointed with my left hand momentarily, showing him what just crept out. "There is a sign of life," I replied, bracing myself as my Deathwatch Brother readied a frag grenade.
As more lights flickered on the exterior of the building, the swarm grew closer, sped up by the progress show by the illuminating Tower. Within my firing range now, I unleashed a barrage of bolter rounds, causing small explosions throughout the whirling mass of death charging across the barren surface. Still, the rippers pushed on, now receiving a few frag rounds from Broteus, blowing large holes in the ground and the enemy. With another barrage, I cleaned up any survivors still fearlessly pressing on, but I could see this was only the beginning. As the Tower, whirred more and more to life, a screech was let out, echoing throughout the canyons like a wailing banshee. More tyranid began to emerge, a mixture of genestealers and ripper swarms. "Move back into the doorway," Broteus ordered, his footsteps signaling me to follow. "We can use it as a choke point."
He was correct, and it was very effective. Each wave was constricted by the opening, causing them to move slower thus becoming easier prey. We were about halfway between the main door and the one leading into the Station control center. I stood behind a pillar on the left side, while Broteus was posted up on the right, causing us to not only funnel them in, but also causing a type of crossfire that confused and crushed them enemy. For each light or system that was restored, a tyranid lay dead. Suddenly, Rune grasped up my bolt pistol, firing in a suppressing manner at the units trying to enter. "All of the systems have been repaired," he reported, firing more rounds and killing a genestealer. "There is a hidden panel that was opened during the system repair, leading beneath the Tower." A well placed frag grenade deterred the enemy advance momentarily, giving us time to regroup. "We should fall back into the control center," Broteus tried to motion, but was stopped by a scything talon that stabbed through his leg suddenly from behind. "Raveners!" I yelled while unloading on the ambushing, slithering fiends. As I felled two, I noticed the other two advancing from my side, while one still stabbed wildly at the Black Templar. I trained my heavy bolter on the duo racing my way, tearing one apart immediately but only wounding the other. With its momentum, it crashed into me, rending my armour and stabbing into my torso. Pinned, I unsheathed my dagger and the two of us stabbed at one another, only stopping if the other did. As I climbed to my feet, I saw Rune beheading the last Ravener, but Broteus lay below in bad shaped. His leg impaled while his arm had been severed entirely. "Get him into the control room!" I barked, firing a barrage into the doorway to buy us some time. "Move it, Skold!" Rune yelled, throwing a frag past me as I turned and entered the smaller chambers.
With the doors closed, and det pack left in place just in case it is breached, we descended down into the unknown passage, being left with few options. We had not taken teleport homers, so we needed that Relay Tower online, or we would be forced to bring it down around us. Rune carried Broteus easily with the aid of his servo arm. I took point, and as I entered the small room below, part of me began to wish we had stayed upstairs with the gnashing maw of tyranid. The room we stood in now was a mass grave, finding all of the missing stationed here now slaughtered and hung upon the walls in a sadistic fashion. I tapped Rune on the shoulder as he lay Broteus against the wall, making him aware of what we had just found.
A faint voice began to whisper around the room, even my ears not keen enough to understand the words. Then, a shadowy figure emerged, as if walking through the wall itself into the room of the massacred. "Show me your face so I may send you back to whatever Chaos Lord you worship!" I yelled, readying my weapon. It moved closer, then unclouded itself, revealing its true form. "Vlad...?" Rune whispered, his sword still ready in his hand. "No..." It voiced, the apparition of our wounded Battle Brother floating in place. "I am no longer your Brother...I am no longer even bound to that wretched body. The relic blade fed on the power I manifested that day outside of the Spire, the blood you soaked up fueling it and empowering me greatly, Skold. So, I wanted to let you live, at least briefly, so that you would be aware of the monster you helped create. Regardless if you get that petty machine to work, the Grand Cruiser Vepres will no longer answer. As we speak, I have opened up a gateway so that my power may consume the ship that my body resides in, leaving you stranded in the process. From this vessel, I will drown the Jericho Sector in blood, but before I did, I wanted to say farewell...Brothers."
With a shriek, the shadowy image dissipated, leaving only Rune and I left standing, while the screeches of the tyranid and the scrapes of their claws drew ever closer. I looked at Rune, the young, quiet pup who had fought so valiantly at my side these least few missions, and nodded to him, replacing my helmet over my head once more as Rune readied the detonation packs. "If we survive this," I speak heartily to him now, knowing certain death faces us. "I will tell you the tale of the fang on my necklace." Rune chuckled, finishing the preparations and stepping back, dragging Broteus away as well. Positioned behind the only support beam in the room, we steeled ourselves for what may come next. "You better hope we do not survive," Rune replied suddenly, holding the detonator in his hand. "The Captain would owe me a lot of requisition if I knew the answer!" We bother laughed as the building fell down around us....
(From the eyes of the Wolf)
MISSION VI: HERESY
(From the eyes of the Wolf)
My keen eyes fell on the Servitor entering my quarters, beaming a message of summons to the Armoury. It is not that I was annoyed by the summons more that I had just finished mounting the rest of my trophies from previous Deathwatch missions on the wall. My collection was quite a sight now, between my service here and on Fenris. A wall dedicated to battle, much like the necklace that adorned my neck during countless battles. It was a simple item, a small leather cord with a single fang on it. Only I know its true past, but many have spoken tails of how I pulled it from an encounter with a Kraken back on Fenris. I mention that creature often but say no more on the subject ever besides its name, it is both my reward and my burden. Regardless of its history, its real purpose was for good luck. It is my battle talisman, one that has gone unscathed in combat, and each time I has survived while wearing it round my neck. I exited my chambers, ready for whatever mission may lie ahead.
I enter the Armoury, already knowing Vlad would not be on this mission. His mind was lost in the Warp, and they were uncertain if he would ever wake. Trifling with powers such as those is dangerous, I have slain many Psykers to know the infectious power it holds. Rune and Broteus stood firm as I entered, while Captain Magnus looked over some intel, most likely pertaining to the summons. As he looked up from his work, I nodded to him, signaling that I was ready for combat as soon as we were briefed. With a stern nod, he began detailing our orders.
"It would seem your presence on Eleusis is wanted once more. A Relay Tower has gone silent and there are no scouts in the area to report on its whereabouts. You three seem to be quite capable of handling uncertain missions, I would dare say the Emperor favors you lot. So, I have decided that this mission suits your particular abilities. Rune will be the most valuable of the bunch, sorry Skold. He is a Techmarine and therefore crucial if something has damaged the station, being able to repair it faster than the others. You will take a Thunderhawk down to the surface, find the Relay Tower, assess the situation, and, if able, get it back online. It is in a remote part of the planet, surround by canyons, and Tyranid. This happens to be right in their path of invasion, which is why this is even more imperative. We need that building to monitor their advancement, and to know whether the planet is salvageable or not. This is a delicate mission, so I would prefer Brother Broteus to take command. His tactical mind will serve most useful. You have your Requisition and your instructions, may the Emperor stand between you and harm in all the empty places you must walk."
Rune, Brotheus, and I meet at the Thunderhawk, war gear in hand. Broteus has been chosen to lead this mission, a wise choice considering his crafty mind. Even though we of the Rout prefer gritty combat, we appreciate a mind dedicated to it more. Aboard the transport, we ready ourselves as the pilot, a White Scar who we had deployed with us previously, secured the cargo for our mission, then made his way to the cockpit. As we lifted off, I could not help but feel irritated by the Space Marine, who had not even acknowledged our presence.
As we burned down through the atmosphere, something fell in the cockpit, Broteus noticing it as well. Rune was busy going over his effects and had not noticed it, but I did not want to alarm him if this did not warrant an action. Descending down through the planets dusty skies, the pilot moved out from behind his controls and picked up the loose item. "Drop something, Brother?" I asked as the ship continued its descent, my eyes never moving from his position. He stepped further into the room, clutching a peculiar box, adorned with symbols and runes. Broteus confirmed my suspicion, yelling "Heretic" as he attempted to remove the harness holding him. "Vileheart sends his regards...Brothers," the traitorous Space Marine uttered, opening the box and unleashing a well hidden bomb, tearing the front portion of the ship asunder. Rune was now very aware, the explosion clueing him in on what just transpired. I was furiously holding on to the Black Templars arm, keeping him from being thrown out. As he fixed his straps back around himself, I grasped my helmet and put it on, knowing this landing may be a hard one. Rune followed suit, clamping his servo arm against the hull, bracing himself in quite well. We watched as the ground crept closer and closer faster and faster, the canyons below snaking together rapidly as we spun further and further out of control. Then, we caught the edge of a jagged cliff face, shattering the ship in all directions, tossing us out with the carnage and into unknown territory.
I awoke to the sounds of raging winds rushing over me, howling through the canyon around me. My armour seemed intact, as did my weapon and gear. I removed my helmet, thankful for the protection it had provided but knowing it had completed its mission for the time being. I scoured the area I was stranded in but found no sign of the Kill Team. I decided to follow my senses, leading me out into the winding labyrinth of a gorge.
As I traveled, I kept my wits about me. These winds would cause my heightened sense of smell to be limited, therefore not allowing me to notice peculiar things, such as the stench of the enemy. Briefly, I saw the silhouette of a being standing atop one of the cliffs, but when I trained my heavy bolter upon it, I found nothing. "Do you copy?" a voice cracks through the vox link in my collar, forcing me to ignore the shifting shadows momentarily. "I read you, Broteus," I replied, looking around for any sign of him or the enemy. "What is your position?" he asked me, trying to assess the situation. "I have been traveling against the wind for a few clicks now," I told him, continuing my pace as I saw something worthwhile in the distance. "I think I may have found the crash site. Have you located Rune yet?" I take the left fork, trying to discern where the smoke was exactly billowing from, but my sight was limited. "No," Broteus messages over the communication system. "I think I may being followed. Have you seen any enemies?" I had not, other than that odd shadow earlier, I had seen nothing. This was troubling to me. The area was being encroached upon by the Hive Fleet Dagon, yet I had seen no trace of any Tyranid nor any sign that they had been here. The Emperor must be smiling upon us, especially considering I have just found Rune.
After waking the somehow unscathed Techmarine, we searched the area thoroughly, locating some of the cargo that was needed for repair of the Relay Station. However, in the mayhem, Rune had lost all of his weapons save for his Sacris claymore, and that powerful servo arm of his. Though, I cannot remember a time that he had ever used it in combat, which has led me to believe that he does not want to upset the machine spirit inside with improper use. Together, we headed back the way I had traveled, leaving the dead end with only debris and small fuel fires.
At the three fork passageway I had split off of earlier, we met up with Broteus, who had somehow figured out which way we were located. Crafty indeed. With the Kill Team complete, we set off down the only fork passage left, leading us right to the wreckage. I took overwatch as Rune and Broteus covered ground, searching for supplies and weapons. They managed to muster up more of the missing cargo but found nothing more. "I only searched briefly in the area I landed," the Tactical Marine stated, his eyes scanning the area for any missed clues or signs, whether it be hostile or helpful. "I did however see the Relay Station, so I know which way we need to take to get there." Without delay, we left the remains of the Thunderhawk, Rune taking one last look at it and shaking his head before we departed.
We followed the gorge and the winds gale for some time before finding Broteus' landing sight. It was covered in shrapnel and smoke, which impressed me that he had somehow survived this ordeal AND found our location under such extreme circumstances. Once again, I took watch as the they combed the area, locating more cargo and the Missile Launcher we had taken aboard. "We still have not found all of our missing gear or cargo," our Squad Leader said, his helmet aimed toward the Tower in the distance. "But I fear we are running out of time, being exposed and underequipped in enemy territory. Let us be off, the Relay Tower needs our assistance." With Rune loaded up with cargo, carried by his servo arm, his hands clasped firmly on his claymore, we made our way toward the disabled structure, unsure of what we would find.
Along the way, we caught more glimpses of a solitary shadow, darting or fading away each time we focused on its location. Yet, we still had not seen a single tangible enemy, and this was starting to make me uncomfortable. Finally, we reached the stairs leading up to the massive building, which sat dark and unmoving, the terrible wind assailing it constantly. Broteus ordered us into a tighter formation, the Kill Team moving swiftly and cautiously up the stairs to the Station.
Outside, there were no signs of techpriests, servants, soldiers, or defenses. It seemed abandoned. Without delay, Rune worked on the entry pad to open the doors, while Broteus and I stood guard. The large doors opened, the dark interior greeting us coldly. Rune and Broteus stepped inside, assessing the situation and looking for friend or foe. I stood outside, alone, my back against the open maw of the dead Tower. In the distance, just as Broteus managed to get the first flicker of power for the Station, I saw something stir. As if answering the call of the machine, a massive ripper swarm rushed out of a cave opening, wedged high up on the wall of an adjacent cliff. "What is the status?" I asked, readying my heavy bolter. "Rune has found the interior system that needs repairs," the Black Templar replied as he stepped up behind me."The building is clear. No sign of life." I pointed with my left hand momentarily, showing him what just crept out. "There is a sign of life," I replied, bracing myself as my Deathwatch Brother readied a frag grenade.
As more lights flickered on the exterior of the building, the swarm grew closer, sped up by the progress show by the illuminating Tower. Within my firing range now, I unleashed a barrage of bolter rounds, causing small explosions throughout the whirling mass of death charging across the barren surface. Still, the rippers pushed on, now receiving a few frag rounds from Broteus, blowing large holes in the ground and the enemy. With another barrage, I cleaned up any survivors still fearlessly pressing on, but I could see this was only the beginning. As the Tower, whirred more and more to life, a screech was let out, echoing throughout the canyons like a wailing banshee. More tyranid began to emerge, a mixture of genestealers and ripper swarms. "Move back into the doorway," Broteus ordered, his footsteps signaling me to follow. "We can use it as a choke point."
He was correct, and it was very effective. Each wave was constricted by the opening, causing them to move slower thus becoming easier prey. We were about halfway between the main door and the one leading into the Station control center. I stood behind a pillar on the left side, while Broteus was posted up on the right, causing us to not only funnel them in, but also causing a type of crossfire that confused and crushed them enemy. For each light or system that was restored, a tyranid lay dead. Suddenly, Rune grasped up my bolt pistol, firing in a suppressing manner at the units trying to enter. "All of the systems have been repaired," he reported, firing more rounds and killing a genestealer. "There is a hidden panel that was opened during the system repair, leading beneath the Tower." A well placed frag grenade deterred the enemy advance momentarily, giving us time to regroup. "We should fall back into the control center," Broteus tried to motion, but was stopped by a scything talon that stabbed through his leg suddenly from behind. "Raveners!" I yelled while unloading on the ambushing, slithering fiends. As I felled two, I noticed the other two advancing from my side, while one still stabbed wildly at the Black Templar. I trained my heavy bolter on the duo racing my way, tearing one apart immediately but only wounding the other. With its momentum, it crashed into me, rending my armour and stabbing into my torso. Pinned, I unsheathed my dagger and the two of us stabbed at one another, only stopping if the other did. As I climbed to my feet, I saw Rune beheading the last Ravener, but Broteus lay below in bad shaped. His leg impaled while his arm had been severed entirely. "Get him into the control room!" I barked, firing a barrage into the doorway to buy us some time. "Move it, Skold!" Rune yelled, throwing a frag past me as I turned and entered the smaller chambers.
With the doors closed, and det pack left in place just in case it is breached, we descended down into the unknown passage, being left with few options. We had not taken teleport homers, so we needed that Relay Tower online, or we would be forced to bring it down around us. Rune carried Broteus easily with the aid of his servo arm. I took point, and as I entered the small room below, part of me began to wish we had stayed upstairs with the gnashing maw of tyranid. The room we stood in now was a mass grave, finding all of the missing stationed here now slaughtered and hung upon the walls in a sadistic fashion. I tapped Rune on the shoulder as he lay Broteus against the wall, making him aware of what we had just found.
A faint voice began to whisper around the room, even my ears not keen enough to understand the words. Then, a shadowy figure emerged, as if walking through the wall itself into the room of the massacred. "Show me your face so I may send you back to whatever Chaos Lord you worship!" I yelled, readying my weapon. It moved closer, then unclouded itself, revealing its true form. "Vlad...?" Rune whispered, his sword still ready in his hand. "No..." It voiced, the apparition of our wounded Battle Brother floating in place. "I am no longer your Brother...I am no longer even bound to that wretched body. The relic blade fed on the power I manifested that day outside of the Spire, the blood you soaked up fueling it and empowering me greatly, Skold. So, I wanted to let you live, at least briefly, so that you would be aware of the monster you helped create. Regardless if you get that petty machine to work, the Grand Cruiser Vepres will no longer answer. As we speak, I have opened up a gateway so that my power may consume the ship that my body resides in, leaving you stranded in the process. From this vessel, I will drown the Jericho Sector in blood, but before I did, I wanted to say farewell...Brothers."
With a shriek, the shadowy image dissipated, leaving only Rune and I left standing, while the screeches of the tyranid and the scrapes of their claws drew ever closer. I looked at Rune, the young, quiet pup who had fought so valiantly at my side these least few missions, and nodded to him, replacing my helmet over my head once more as Rune readied the detonation packs. "If we survive this," I speak heartily to him now, knowing certain death faces us. "I will tell you the tale of the fang on my necklace." Rune chuckled, finishing the preparations and stepping back, dragging Broteus away as well. Positioned behind the only support beam in the room, we steeled ourselves for what may come next. "You better hope we do not survive," Rune replied suddenly, holding the detonator in his hand. "The Captain would owe me a lot of requisition if I knew the answer!" We bother laughed as the building fell down around us....
(From the eyes of the Wolf)