This story is an unofficial story based, without permission, on the Warhammer/Warhammer 40,000 intellectual property owned by Games Workshop Ltd.
The smoke from the exploding krak grenades drifted into the face of young Captain Syakotus, adding more black soot across his chilled cheeks from the biting cold as he pushed forwards through the snow and trees. Each step he took sank through the snow with a slight crunch from his weight. Even for a Space Marine Captain, he was rather tall as he plunged his feet down with the weight of his armour. Bullet shells fell all around; the sound was especially loud as the bullets from the traitors he was sent to execute thudded into the trees he and his men had to use for cover. The smell of burning metal was all about; he felt the filth from the smoke upon his face and through his long hair. Even though it was neatly tied in a pony tail, it still felt greasy through the dirt of the evaporating smoke as it moved swiftly in clouds carried within the frigid winds that moved between the trees, creating a stale, musty aura. He could see through the wisps falling to the ground or moving into his face, Assault squad Teaxon advancing forward, using the trees for their only cover. "Careful now they will be using this smoke for cover," he voxed.
A blast before him caught his eye; it was one of Teaxon's squad blown sky high. Blood splashed in a shower of red across the snow then lay in the form of a red blanket. It spread across the trees and those nearest as the Marine's limbs were ripped from their sockets. A direct hit to the Marine's chest took his life, literally pouring his intestines across his scattered legs and the closest of trees. Although it was a horrific way to die, his name will be remembered as a hero in battle, Vasone. Another explosion, closer this time, splashed snow from the ground across his dark blue ceramite armour. Syakotus stopped. "Damn this fraggin' smoke!" he bellowed. The sudden explosion had blown smoke straight up to his face. The smell was like burning copper and he wanted to pull up his crimson hand and wipe the black smoke away, but knew it would do no good. He turned his head to his rear to see Tactical squad Gustus following. Their dark blue ceramite armour was like a black dot on a sheet of white paper. "Check your rears!" he voxed them.
He turned back to the front in time to watch two more explosions, this time further away from him and his advancing Marines; but the smoke came in thicker, floating over and across the trees in large black/grey clouds just hanging there in the air. On through the snow he ploughed, his heavy feet sinking into it as he walked. Sometimes the ground was as even as it could be, yet another step would go far down into the snow and for a moment or two he would be stuck there. left vulnerable. On this occasion he used both his crimson red hands to pull his foot from the hole he'd made as he became stuck; his foot freed, he picked up his storm bolter again. A second before he stood up, the wisp of a bullet swiped past him, knocking him back a step. "That was close…" he thought. Then another flew into the tree to his left. As he and his company got closer to the traitors, the gun fire thumped all about. It appeared to ricochet between the trees and seemed that at any moment they would shatter or explode, yet they just stood there all brazen and defiant in the thick of the battle.
Syakotus and his men used them for cover, as did the traitors. Like Syakotus and his company of Crimson Fists, they too were brother Space Marines, only branded traitors. The perfect enemy for the Crimson Fists, they were their equals in combat. As Syakotus ploughed on towards them followed by his battle brothers, the falling snow started to turn more into a blizzard as the cold began to really bite at the skin of Syakotus' face. Bless the Emperor for his guidance and bless Rogal Dorn for the strength of his will he'd passed down to the Crimson Fists. Syakotus felt the cold in his throat with each of his breaths, yet on he went. Everything seemed pure and clean, all the harsher for the slain blood to fall on. How dare it fall so silently; covering everything, falling on him and his men, dancing off his armour in the wind as if to taunt them in the face of battle, clogging their vision.
Without any warning, a power axe cut into his arm through the ceramite armour. He turned in time to see his attacker; a traitor attired in the same armour as his only coloured silver, his helmet marked with black dints, probably from all kinds of battles. The traitor yanked the power axe from his injured arm. Blood spilled from the cut made by the weapon yet soon clotted. As Syakotus stepped back, the traitor swung the power axe at him again, just missing his chest plate. Syakotus smiled at the traitor as he reached for the large power sword secured at his back. As he lifted it up in his right hand he clicked the switch on the handle with his thumb, causing the sword to begin emitting a low hum. The traitor lunged forward, this time with more aggression "Die!" he screamed at Syakotus, as the power axe he held tightly slammed into the tree next to Syakotus. "Oh dear" he said as he swung his power sword into the left shoulder of the traitor, cutting deep into his chest with the strike and out of the right side of his rib cage. The traitor's upper torso slid off the rest of his body and slumped heavily into the snow.
Sergeant Gustus stepped up behind Syakotus. Though the rest of squad Gustus wore their helmets he did not and Syakotus could see his face was black with soot from the smoke.
"Captain, are you alright?" he asked.
"Aye, but he isn't."
Sergeant Gustus pulled out his auspex, strapped to his waist. Syakotus looked down on its readings, the screen covered with snow and shards of ice "Fifteen. We are on top of them now. Remain at my side keep the squad close and tight, this is what Spectre Knights are good at; ambushing," Syakotus explained, wiping the snow from the auspex screen with a hint of passion, hoping another would jump out at him so he could slay them. "Aye Sir!" the squad responded.
Altogether Syakotus had brought twenty-five Marines with him. Tactical squad Gustus, Assault squad Korde, and Assault squad Teaxon came down to this arctic weathered planet Kylle at the request of Inquisitor Nathan Salvanfor.
The gunfire fell silent and the smoke started to evaporate "See anything Korde?" he voxed to the Assault Sergeant. "No," was the deep reply. Suddenly from behind, gunfire started to chatter again. Gustus turned and he received a bullet through the left rib cage. Hendo aimed his flamer at the rear and let loose the flames into the trees, setting them alight. Syakotus looked across to his right; just as he did the Spectre Knights came out from behind the trees and lunged into Tactical squad Gustus. They charged like they were in frenzy, swinging their chain swords and power axes above them. Syakotus flung his sword into the first to reach him; the Spectre went to his knees as the silver of his armour blended with the snow. Syakotus shoved his storm bolter in his face and opened fire, creating a mess of brain tissue and blood.
Gustus stumbled to his feet as two Spectres swung their chain swords into his chest and throat. Hendo spun around in time to see his Sergeant die. He let out a shower of flames that engulfed both of the Spectres. As they were flung back doused in flames, Ruhin swung his bolter around at them; setting it to full auto with a tip of the trigger, showering the two in bullets "Ruhin watch out!" bellowed Hendo as he spotted another Spectre swinging his power axe straight at the neck of Ruhin. As he turned to his attacker, his head came away, slamming hard through the snow as the remaining body slumped down in a floppy collapse. Hendo dashed over to his Captains side.
Sergeant Teaxon, followed by his six-man Assault squad; raced over to the fight. Three of the Spectres turned to engage them in combat. Two armed with power axes and the third flung his arms wide with a flash of electricity, revealing his large lighting claws from both hands. He leaped high into the air and pounced into squad Teaxon like a tiger leaping for the kill. As he bore down on the closest Crimson Fist, Jax, he slashed his lightening claws into Jax's chest, ripping clean through his dark blue power armour and slashing deep into his flesh. The deeper the claws sliced, the more flesh and guts flew from Jax's chest. Frieh, another Marine of squad Teaxon, swung his chain sword at the Spectre with the claws but found his blade blocked by another Spectre's power axe. Dropping his bolter to the ground, the new attacker jumped back, swinging his power axe high above his head to jump further forwards at Frieh, who was anticipating the attack. He stepped to the right and then swung his chain sword into the back of the Spectre as he stumbled forward. The chain sword slashed through the Spectre's silver armour, drawing blood. The Spectre fell further forward and to his knees, which Frieh took full advantage of. He leaped up in the air, slamming his feet hard into the back of the Spectre pushing him face down in the snow with a crunch. Frieh then un-holstered his bolt pistol, aimed it at the Spectres head and fired with a loud roar into the back of the dying Spectre's skull.
Teaxon engaged the other Spectre, swinging his axe high. Both men jumped up from the deep snow below their feet, simultaneously swinging their weapons above their heads. As both men clashed, Teaxons power sword sliced through the chest plate and deep into the Spectre who released his power axe from his tight grip from the shock of pain. Both men landed simultaneously. As they did, Teaxon yanked his sword from the chest of the floppy Spectre, dead the moment his heavy bulk slammed through the deep snow.
"He's mine," Teaxon said with his deep voice; pointing at the Spectre standing over the corpse of Jax. Frieh knew not to argue, "As you wish," he returned. Frieh ran over to squad Gustus followed by the rest of squad Teaxon.
Teaxon removed the dark blue helmet that covered his face, though the snow was falling hard, you could still make out the brown of his hair. The Spectre opposite him also removed his black helmet, revealing his bald head and a largely cut scar across the centre of his face. "It will be a pleasure to take the life from you Crimson Fist!" the Spectre yelled.
"No, that pleasure will be mine traitor," Teaxon retorted.
"The name's Commander Bruttin, remember that name, for it will be the last you hear," he yelled back, spreading his arms out and leaping forward through the snow. Teaxon lifted his power sword high above his head for the death strike, but Bruttin was far to quick for Teaxon. Bruttin leaped forwards slashing his lightening claws at his chest. As Teaxon swung his sword down, he missed his assailant who was now facing the rear of him. Though Teaxon knew that he did not have enough time to retaliate he still turned to face Bruttin, holding his sword out in mere hope, but Bruttin was too good. He dove at Teaxon using the full power of his strength, swinging both sets of his claws through his opponent's neck. As Bruttin slammed his feet into the snow, Teaxons head fell clean off from his shoulders, leaving the remainder of his body to flop sideways then forward into the snow, crashing hard into a tree. Teaxon never stood a chance; it had taken Bruttin less than a minute to slay the Crimson Fist's Assault Sergeant.
Bruttin wiped away the blood from his mouth still tasting it. He turned to face squad Gustus defending their Captain. Bruttin watched Syakotus as he swung his sword like a true warrior. He stepped forward, spitting blood from his mouth into the snow below, thinking if only the good Captain knew who the real traitor was. It will be a shame he has to die. He turned away from the battle, glancing back at Syakotus one last time. He noticed one thing of Syakotus, his face was young to bear the mark of a company Captain decorated around his armour, for a Captain so young, he must be good in battle.
As the last of the attacking Spectres fell, the smoke was fully evaporating from the snow storm and being carried away high with the strong winds, but the musty aura remained as did the taste of blood in their mouths. Syakotus stepped away from the trees and the smell of burning flesh and stale blood; pulling his communicator from his waist he flicked his thumb across the panel. It crackled momentarily then, "Salvanfor," the voice of the Inquisitor.
"We've engaged the Spectre's," Syakotus informed him.
"Good. Find their base. I'm coming down personally to see to the Necrosphere. Do nothing until my arrival Captain."
Syakotus returned the communicator to his waist belt, he'd enjoyed the fight but it had cost him two Sergeants and three Marines.
Hive World Terra