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[Authrix]

You step by, important business. Boss wants to see you, big news. Your boot thuds on a wooden covering, mud splashing up to rock the already filthy uniform. You sigh, but carry on. It brings back memories, of the... thing. The alien. It tried to claw your eyes out, and in a moment you're back on Ventira, pulling your knife free from its neck, screaming in pain; your fingers probe the empty socket, slipping part the absent iris, the blind cornea. The Doc's head floats before your remaining eye: "Carry on. We'll sort it later."
The mud was a beast.
You step onward, ever onward, your eye unneeded as you make your way through the familiar trench line. You stop as your foot meets a metal object. Long. Slim. It shouldn't be here. You look down as the ancient's hand grasps your thigh.

[dx144]

Nice read =)

Also it distracted me from my Public Services work so double win =D

[Authrix]

Thanks. I'll write more when I have a bit of time

[Paladin Xenos]

Very well written authrix

[Authrix]

The ancient - you know him by his uniform of rags, his wild hair and burnt-dirt skin. His hand gropes blindly, pushing at your leg. You realise you're standing on his prosthetic - he was bloody lucky. You paw idly at your missing eye as you step off his leg. A sound suddenly erupted from his throat, a gurgling laugh that shifted into a hacking cough
"What brings ye here, Sergeant Major?"
"Business." You reply curtly. Lucky bastard. Another laugh.
"Ye got a minute te talk? Nob'dy in the guard has time te talk no more."
"Indeed they don't. " You stand to, turning to leave. As you step forward, his hand stretches out again.
"Cap'in's out the front lines. Ye've got time te talk." The ancient's pull was weak, but you feel compelled to listen.
"Let me tell ye the story of Ventira, and me leg."

[dx144]

Nice piece. =D

I demand more! =)

[Authrix]

Danke. You shall have more, later.

[dx144]

The endless waiting!

[Authrix]

But wait you shall

Can't rush perfection

[dx144]

Fulgrim can....

[Authrix]

You're not Fulgrim.

Well, I don't think you are anyway... >.>
<.<

[Authrix]

You realize, with a stab of annoyance, that the ancient is right - The Captain likely wouldn't be back for a while. The man had a tendency to go missing after calling up his officers. You are about to decline when you realize the Ancient mentioned a name you know - Ventira. Sitting opposite the man, you prompt him.
"Ventira?"
"Aye... Ventira."
You sorrow swells in your heart as you remember the name.
"I served on Ventira in the Keldas Wars. Lost a lot of good men." The Ancient laughs, a cruel and remorseless gesture.
"Men... numbers. We lost more than that." He shook his head, reaching towards a flask on the ground. He sips, then thrusts the grimy container at you. Yuo decline, to which he shrugs, continuing. "T'were long ago" He began. Already, you were interested, if a little disgusted, to hear this other recount of the barren Death World. "Several years if I remember right - which I probably don't." You shift slightly, propping yourself against the wall. Two guardsmen walk by, gesturing pity at you - another caught by the old rambler. Without an excuse to walk away, or too damn honest for your own good, you are forced to stay.

[Authrix]

"It was back when I first joined" He began, but you interrupt.
"The Regiment?"
"The Guard! It was me first deployment - I was but twelve years Y'see?" He spat into a corner, where you notice a rusting pot. He continues.
"Back when I joined, I was put through a week Basic, then sent to some world - Gerin or summat."
Gerin. You know that place. A place forged in blood and fire, the swirling malestrom of war - as was most of the Imperium.
"It was a Hive World."
"Yes." He looks at you with a wily eye. "You know 'er?"
"Purely documental." He nods with a wry smile.
"O'course." He chuckles before starting again. "The planet were OK when we got there. I remember it well...

Jerking suddenly, with a wild and sudden stop, the mass transport landed and started disembarking troops. Kelk snapped to as he was pushed forward, stepping in with the rest of the regiment. Troops and vehicles thundered from a collection of Transports to take their place in the defense of planet Gerin. Alongside him marched Woad and Tarn, his brothers in the Guard. The rolling thunder of one hundred thousand boots echoed across the plains of Gerin, through the cities, accompanied by the rumble of tanks and the foot fall of massive warmachines, The Emperor's spirit manifest. To watch them made Kelk's heart swell, to hear them brought courage and utter certainty of victory. He knew in but hours he would be fighting the enemies of man. But he would have all of this on his side. How could he lose?
"This way!" Someone called. "Squad Elos, here, hold this position."
He grimaced as the squad was shoved onto a pa*CENSORED*t, guarding the secondary entrance to the Hive, ten men forced into a cramped wall barely large enough for five. He found Tare grinning next to him.
"Well, could be worse." He laughed.
"True. At least that's on our side." he gestured behind himself to the stomping warmachine.
"Aye" the man to his left piped up, grinding out an Iho stick on the wall. "You ever seen one before?" The man was Sergeant Elos, a veteran of the regiment. His grey uniform was stained and spoilt by the dust and blood of a thousand wars. "It's a Titan." He explained "Most holy machine in the Imperium. It's like the Emperor himself were fighting with us. It'll change the fortunes of this world, that's for sure." The sergeant smiled knowingly at the machine; it stopped, finally in position.

[Authrix]

One, Two, Three hours passed. Still no sign of anything. Kelk watched Tarn pace up and down the pa*CENSORED*t. Other squad members had left to rest, but Tarn, Kelk and Elos had been left behind.
"How long?" Tarn asked again as he paced.
"We don't know. Just keep watching."
"We've been watching for hours now. I just want something to shoot."
Elos snorted in contempt. "Be grateful. War isn't fun."
"I disagree. I think we need to show the species of the galaxy who rightfully owns it."
"Your zeal is commendable." Elos stood to look out over the approach. Smoke and dust rose through the barren desert outside of Hive Selsis, but otherwise there was no movement. "But misplaced. We cannot affect the galaxy in any large way." He turned to face Tarn, who was caught between anger and shock. "We will do what we can trooper, but you have to realise that that amount is limited. None of us will live long enough to do anything meaningful. We will fight and die for our Emperor, and that is all he asks of any of us." Tarn was about to respond when Kelk spoke suddenly.
"They're here."

[Authrix]

Death. Death and pure terror. That was what Kelk thought was striding across the barren plains as the sun dropped below the horizon. The first thing to catch his attention was the looming behemoth War Reaver , followed by the teeming swarm of tanks and transports following in its wake. The three men watched, their lasguns suddenly heavy and useless in the face of the moving walk of steel. The distant drone of an alarm, which had always been whining, broke through the useless fugue the men had fallen into.
"Tanks! Get a launcher up here, now! Tarn, you're loading!" The disorganised guard finally opened up, long range artillery battering the approaching Chaos forces. In a single, shattering reply, the Reaver Titan opened fire, immolating its Imperial counterpart.