Part V "Sir," Sturm began hesitantly, "I would like to say... that is, the men and I...." Ezekial waited, face completely devoid of emotion. Sturm forced himself to spit out the words. "We'd like to thank you for what you did for the Captain. Sir. It means a lot to us." Ezekial still betrayed nothing, keeping his expression blank, impassive, but deep inside he allowed himself to feel their gratitude. This common bond was forgotten by many of his brethren, but they were once regular humans too. They all fought for the continuance of their race as a whole, but it was men like these Guardsmen who made it somewhat more worth fighting for. Almost immediately he noticed Vicconius watching him, speculatively, and felt a rush of shame, and doubt of his own intentions. Damn the man!, he though, but he knew the Chaplain was right, as always. Marines were too special a force to waste their time coddling the normal humans; they were only to be protected in defense of the Imperium, not have their every fear quelled individually. Without transition, Ezekial's guilt changed to a familiar anger. "Trooper Sturm, I did what I did for my own reasons," he responded coldly, emphasizing each word, "not yours. When you have earned _my_ gratitude, I will do the same for you. Now lead your men, and have them find secure positions from which to watch the entrance. The Eldar may yet find egress." With an absolutely casual flick of his wrist, he sent the burly Guardsman tumbling backward, to be caught by the other soldiers. Instantly a pang of regret flared within him, but his anger kept it small. He turned away, snapping his helmet on with a thunk, so that Vicconius and Sturm would not be able to see his face. The dials and runes brightened inside his visor as his armor fed power to them. Knowing his men would have similarly reactivated their helmets to take advantage of its dark-seeing capabilities -- for the bulk of the City of Might was wreathed in shadows -- he opened the comm channel for a progress report. His armor's acoustic sensors brought him the faint thump-thumping of the Eldar much more clearly than even his own enhanced hearing had. "Brother Lucius, report." The Space Marine's voice came back right away. Soft clicks and pops made it sound more distant than it really was. "All is quiet, Brother-Sergeant. This corridor continued in this direction for some time, then began to slope downward. We have passed several heavily-reinforced doors, but they are too secure to open without damaging them, per your instructions." He paused, anticipating a reply. "Continue exploring, then, Brother Lucius," Ezekial ordered. "Await my signal to return. Brother Baronus, report." There was no response. "Brother Baronus, report," Ezekial repeated. Alarm bells began to go off in the back of his mind. Still there was no response. Only the soft hiss of static sounded in his ears. Vicconius materialized next to him. "Brother-Sergeant," he whispered. His face was bright with emotion. Ezekial ignored him. He tried Baronus one more time, then sent his next words to the other squad. "Brother Lucius." "Yes, Brother-Sergeant?" The voice was expectant. "My last orders to you are countermanded. Return at once to this location. Your combat squad will find Brother Baronus and the others. Report your progress as you return." "Affirmative," came the voice. "Combat squad Lucius returning. We are now advancing to position 05:0351. Estimated contact: 67 seconds." Ezekial finally had time to spare for the Chaplain's attention. "Yes, Brother, what is it?" The Interrogator-Chaplain bared his teeth in a grin. They were painted black as a sign that his smiles were dark, not mirthful. This one was no exception. "Joyous news, Ezekial," he crowed, "the Emperor's vengeance has begun. Behold!" With a sweep of his arm, he guided the Sergeant's gaze to a bank of view- screens. Previously inactive, the busy Chaplain had apparently divined their operation and spent the last few minutes finding out what they showed. Now they were lit up brightly, their flickering colors casting weird shadows behind the two Marines. But the images, which appeared on their surfaces, were what had excited the Interrogator-Chaplain. In sharp color, the wall of monitors looked out over several different scenes. Obviously, somehow they were tied into the other Mraba bastions across the planet, and the events transpiring there were being relayed here. On one screen, a horizon-long row of tanks belched forth fire and destruction against onrushing Eldar warriors, while they in turn blasted back with their own weapons. On another, victorious Eldar Swooping Hawks danced circles through the air, singing strange alien songs over the dead remains of fallen Imperial Guardsmen and Dark Angel troops. It was the third and fourth monitors which had drawn Vicconius' attention, though. In the first, the two Marines instantly recognized their original landing location, designated Destiny Point. There, kilometer-high cityspires arced to the dusty heavens, glittering in the golden sunlight. Beneath the star-tipped tops, the gigantic Imperial transports still stood unscathed, berthed in protective energy barriers. To Ezekial's mind that could only mean that the core of their assault was still intact, and that the Eldar had not won a total victory. On the last screen, though, was the most dramatic view: a sloping hillside speckled with the lights of thousands of warriors' encampments. And in the skies, many more lights which were not stars, but starships. Vicconius fiddled with the controls, and enlarged one section of the picture. The first rays of dawn were just beginning to fall on this portion of the planet, and its light gleamed off polished power armor. In sudden brilliant clarity, the purple, gold and white colors of the Emperor's Light Space Marines blazed into view. Ezekial felt his heart lighten as he realized that, somehow, they had arrived as reinforcements weeks ahead of schedule. Vicconius' thoughts paralleled his own. "The warp works in mysterious ways," he murmured reverently, "but surely the terrible weapon of our faith in our Emperor is revealed to be just and true. How else but could they arrive before they left?" "Combat squad Lucius, estimating contact in seventeen seconds." The words hung in the air, breaking the trance of the viewscreens. Vicconius whirled on the oblivious Guardsmen. "You see!" he shouted. "The Emperor has not forgotten us! Vengeance to the alien heretics! Death to the enemies of Mankind!" The sound of heavy tread echoed into the room as Lucius and his men arrived. Entering at the ready, they rapidly dispersed to cover all corners. Taking one last look at the heady elixir of victory on the monitors, Ezekial quickly outlined their situation to the newly arrived soldiers. Exhorting them on, he showed them the same images, whipping his loyalists to a killing frenzy. Vicconius watched approvingly as the Sergeant spurred them with stirring words, then reinstated discipline. _This_ was the Ezekial he had trained, not the curiosity-driven weakling of earlier. The Sergeant was too busy to notice the Chaplain's attention, however. Instantly collating their acquired data, his suit's computers extrapolated the likely configuration of the opposite corridor, down which Baronus had gone. With sure tactical finesse, Ezekial gave his men their orders: "Lucius, this time I go with you. Standard corridor advancment, series alpha. Vicconius, you shall wait here, to ward our backs. Trooper Sturm and his men will assist. We are the Dark Angels, and our vengeance is swift." With mirrored precision, the green-clad warriors set out down the right hand corridor. Helmets on, their armor let them see easily down the dark hall. For twenty meters, then forty meters, they saw nothing. At intervals, Ezekial called for Baronus to answer, but no responses came. They continued on steadily, but not hastily. |
REDEMPTION By Kelly L'Roy |
TOMES OF VALOUR |
This item has been reproduced without the permission of the author. It's use here is not intended as a challenge to the original authors copyright and is reproduced here for the sole purpose of enhancing the Dark Angel spirrit and the warhammer 40,000 experience. Sadly all attempts at contacting the author have been unsuccessful and the original site where this was published no longer in existence. The story has been too invaluable to the DA community to be simply lost in the warp and therefre been reproduced here. If Kellt L'Roy happens to read these pages, please contact by email. |
