Star Wars: Dread Awaking

This is my first attempt at making a short story of Star Wars, enjoy!

Star Wars: Dread Awaking

1BBY
Secret outpost of Trulis…

‘Dismiss,’ ordered Commander Velix as he waved off a squad of Stormtroopers in front of him, turning to the right before marching off in clip formation order down the corridor to carry out their reassigned patrol circuits.

Swiftly turning away from the Stormtroopers, Velix headed towards the waiting elevator, his lieutenant following close beside him but mindful of keeping a step back as Velix had firmly sowed the seeds of fear into the men under his command, his punishments for the slightest of errors going beyond simple discipline and order but of cruelty and malice.

Stepping into the lift, Velix stood with his arms folded behind his back, standing firmly in the centre as he waited. Taking the silent command without hesitation, the lieutenant pressed one of the many buttons on the control panel beside the door, watching the two black doors come together before briefly feeling himself pulled towards the ground as the elevator began to ascend.

‘Lieutenant,’ Velix said, calling him by his rank rather his name ‘some of the troops, I feel that they are starting to falter in their duty in guarding this facility,’ Velix spoke, his gaze fixed sternly at the lift doors ‘perhaps I am being too lenient?’

‘I…I…’ stuttered the lieutenant, struggling to find the right words to say ‘spit out lieutenant,’ Velix ordered, forcing the struggling lieutenant’s hand ‘I believe that they are doing an adequate job at…’

‘Adequate job?’ Velix cut off ‘they are waning lieutenant, it is plain to see. Sometimes I think I am the only one round here who knows what’s going on,’ Velix stated ‘examples. We should have to make examples in the near-future if we are to get these soldiers back into shape.’

Not wanting to incur his commander’s wrathful lecturing again, the lieutenant simply stood to attention until the end of the trip. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before the lift began to slow in its speed, coming to a complete halt at the top level of the base.

The doors opening, Velix marched on out and into the command centre, immediately presented to him on one side of the room, a long and lengthy window stretched out before Velix.

On a clear day, Velix could see the imposing four towers that ranged out before the base with snow white fields and mountain ranges crisscrossing the distance but today a blizzard had blown in from the nearby coast to the south of the base, creating a wall of whiteness on the panel.

Ignoring the dreary weather raging outside, Velix walked over to the sitting operators of the control tower ‘report,’ Velix ordered to the sitting nearest operator ‘Sir, the weather is scrambling the systems on our radar network, making it near difficult to discern anything approaching the base, but it is still operational,’ replied the controller, his agitated face hidden behind the black egg shape helmet he wore.

‘Very good, carry on with your duties,’ Velix responded, his run of the mill officer tone a close of a sign of him expressing joy in a situation. ‘Let us inspect the barrack next,’ Velix announced to his lieutenant as he turned back to the lift ‘Sir, something has just appeared on the radar,’ called the engineer.

Standing behind the operator, Velix looked down at his console, seeing a small bright green dot on what is a featureless black circular panel, with the base being at the centre of the panel.

‘It was not scheduled,’ Velix said ‘it’s transmitting Imperial codes Sir, should I allow it to land?’ asked the engineer.

‘Permit it to land, but I want two squads Stormtroopers waiting for our unexpected guest.’

#

Watching and waiting from his high advantage point, Velix alongside with his lieutenant watched as the ship come into view beyond the glass window of the command centre.

During the time it had taking for the craft to fly to the base, the blizzard had let up slightly in its assault, allowing the two officers enough clearance to see the craft.

Below them to the left, three landing pads sat adjacent to each other in midair, with long sturdy metal frames holding them in place while a bridge connected them to the base they were in.

‘A Lambda-class T-4a shuttle,’ Velix noted, a common sight throughout the Imperial Navy as he had used them often enough when meeting important dignitaries of the Emperor off world.

High above the platforms, the Lamba shuttle began to fold its lower wings as it started to descend. Drawing nearer, small tiny thrusters spurted from underneath the belly of craft, helping it stabilise itself before landing completely on the ground.

Standing ready on each side of the platform, the Stormtroopers trained their weapons on the cockpit and ramp, unwavering in their aims. With a hiss of escaping steam and air, the ramp started to lower itself, a dark robed figure striding down it toward the waiting troopers.

Trained on the lone figure, troopers waited patiently for the order to open fire. Walking before the new arrival, the officer of the squad brought his weapon down as he began to converse with the person.

After a minute of discussing, the robed figure waved his hand in the air before raising his hands up in surrender. Bringing his hand to his helmet inbuilt comlink, the officer reported to Velix ‘Sir, the man has surrendered. He goes by the name of Fenok and is apparently an informant with information of several rebel base locations.’

Pondering on what to do, Velix considered what he should do. Follow orders and kill this intruder, who has discovered and entered his base, or enquire further in acquiring information on rebel bases, earn himself some elevation in the rank and file of the Imperial Army to some nice cosy post ‘Bring him in.’

#

Riding down the lift again, Velix walked down the corridor with his second in command in tow. Turning a bend, Velix saw the gathered Stormtroopers with their charge in the middle of them at the junction, their guns still trained on him.

Waiting for Velix’s arrival, the officer of the squads stood to attention, his chest out regardless of the being out in the chilly weather ‘Sir, this is the informant,’ the officer presented.

Stepping past the officer, Velix stood before the black robed figure. Inspecting him, Velix noted that protruding out of the back of his head were two long red lekkus that came round the neck and down the front sides of his torso ‘so, you think you have something of value to offer to the Empire?’

Nodding, the robed figured brought his hands up to his head, receiving an immediate reaction from the troopers as they aimed at him. Untying the knot at the back of his head, the person unwrap the cloth round his head, slowly revealing the person beneath it.

With red skin, the informant glared at Velix with hate filled eyes, a long scar cutting vertically from the top down below the eye, possibly caused by a knife of some sorts.

‘What I have to offer is more fulfilling that mere information,’ said the informant. ‘And what else could you possibly offer that I would be interested in?’ Velix asked curiously ‘release,’ stated the man.

Flopping to the ground, the Stormtroopers fell like puppets that have had their strings cut, their limbs spread out before them with their weapons falling far from their grasps. Staring with a wide mouth, Velix looked at the Twi’lek as his face turned in rage.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Velix turned to see his lieutenant running for his life back down the corridor. Hearing a wooshing noise, Velix saw a blur of twirling red light fly through the air, briefly touching his side as it carried on after his lieutenant, slamming into his back before he fell, his torso coming away from his hip and legs.

Thudding next to his feet, Velix looked down with wide eyes as he saw the severed limb of his arm lying on the metal mesh floor, no blood covering it where it lay. Bringing his arm up, Velix saw nothing but a stump, cleanly cut away at the elbow.

Looking up at the Twi’lek, Velix watched as he held a long black staff in his hands, with a light sabre protruding out of only one end of the blade ‘its a lightcane my poor misguided friend,’ the Twi’lek said ‘rarely used by anyone but a devastating weapon in the right, trained hands. But this is merely a symbolic gesture as my power comes from a more subtle, more destructive form.’

Holding the shaft of his weapon in his right hand, the Twi’lek raised his other hand out at Velix. Coughing for air, Velix felt the windpipe in his throat beginning to close, gasping desperately for air. Coming away beneath him, Velix no longer felt the ground under his feet as he was lifted up off the air.

‘The Force, as you simple creatures call it, is a much preferred choice of weapon, especially for executions.’

Trying to speak, Velix felt his head being pushed backwards, feeling the bones of his neck protest as they were bent into a wrong shape. Pushed further, Velix tried to cry out but he could not, his voice constricted by the exuding force on his throat.

Unable to hold on any longer, Velix’s neck snapped like a twig, ending his life as his corpse dangled in the air. Channelling the Force, the Twi’lek tossed the Imperial Commander’s body down the corridor, flipping end over end backwards until it crashed at the wall at the end.

Inspecting the body, a pair of Stormtroopers stood round it before they saw the Twi’lek, raising their E-11 blaster rifles before firing several ruby lasers towards the invader.

Spinning his blade, the Twi’lek deflected the bolts, sending them into the walls of the corridor before sending two back into the chests of the troopers, killing them with their own shoots ‘all shall know of the rise of Darth Dread.’

Death's Claw (Imperial Guard story)

Here's a little story that i've been cooking up, i made this a few months ago but finally, i've decided to show it to the world for all to know. But there is going to be a small part added to it at a later date.

Death's Claw
By Stuart000X

Life in the jungles of Kaybah was rampant with life. The sounds and call of nature in its full, untouched glory sounded in the bush, with roars echoing from the throats of predators on the hunt, the snapping of falling branches and twigs signalling the skirmish of pack animals fighting in the tree tops. Swooping through the air, birds of prey swooped down to the ground as they plucked small mammals from the ground to take back to their younglings nestled in their nests. But all this came to a sudden stop.

Running away in a panic stampede, animals ran as death and destruction were on their heels. Prey, once used to evading and escaping from the jaws of their nemesis now hold a temporarily truce with their hunters as both hunter and hunted ran alongside each other as each seek the shelter and safety the jungle could offer them. Kicking up dust clouds as the harsh sun dried and evaporated any trace of water and liquid.

Still and silent was the jungle in the absence of the wildlife that have fled from it that one might thought it were a twilight dream of some kind they were passing through. But that dream was shortly shattered by the tiny inkling of a creeping quake.

Unnoticeable at first to know of, the quaking began to take a more violent turn, the tall trees and long grass that covered the jungle beginning to shake. Growing more violent still, trees toppled as they’re stiff joints snapped and landed with the sound of hard wood.

Increasing in volume, the creators of the quakes began to make themselves known as the sounds of roaring engines screeched with the sound of grinding metal, with puffs of smoke spluttering from their exhausts, polluting the forest skyline with its oily, grease smell. Grunts of anger could be heard underneath the noise of the engines as hundreds and thousands of footsteps rang out behind the engine noise.

Ploughing through the forest hulks of steel and iron steamrolled through the jungle, knocking down trees as they went, crushing plants and any small animal that hadn’t escaped in time as they were crushed beneath the iron treads of tanks.

Storming through the jungle, ramshackle tanks drove forward as they led the vanguard of an approaching ork army. Mockery depictions of the original creator’s visions, the tanks were of Imperial Construction, Leman Russ’s, Chimeras, Hellhounds, and other unknown variant vehicles painted to the colours of their new owners, red painted crudely over the hulls to invoke the traditional old superstition of making the vehicles go faster.

Following close behind the wall of steel, Orks stay behind the tanks for protection, protests of anger as some of the tanks churned up wet mud and splashed their face with grim and muck.

Then without warning, an explosion erupted, sending one of the Leman Russ’s flying up into the air, landing on its back with flames spewing beneath its ripped and bloodied belly.

With first blood to their ambushed enemies, bullets ripped through the forest as they showered into the orks, green lances shooting out between the golden tracer as they punched holes into the armour column with the whistling and corkscrewing twisting of missiles as they streaked towards the weakened and stunned tanks and foot soldiers of the warband.



‘Maintain your fire! Don’t let up!’ shouted Matan as he fired his lasrifle at the orks, yelling to his entrenched and hidden men onwards, to press home their surprise attack ‘the Emperor smiles down upon us this very moment! Purge these aliens from His realm!’

Charging towards their revealed adversaries, the orks retaliated by opening fire with their remaining tanks, their shots going wide off the mark but some found their target, killing several Catachan Fighters with their deadly payloads. Swarming round their iron mobile fire supports, the orks rushed forward, running at full speed as they bared teeth in anticipation of the ensuing fight. Thousands of ruby lights reached out to touch the orks with gold tracer fire from heavy bolter and autocannon emplacements.

Seeing the orks draw closer, Matan took careful aim as he fired his lasrifle ‘come you bastards,’ whispered Matan as he urged them closer.

‘WAAAGGGHHH… ooh?’ said Okkin as stood on something metallic. Moving his foot out of the way, Okkin saw something jump into the air in front of him before exploding, firing shrapnel out of its confines and into the flesh of Okkin and all other orks near him.

Laughing as he watched, Matan saw the orks trip the booby traps him and his regiment had set up. Explosions erupted as orks stood on shredder and spring mines. Circling round the plumes of explosives, orks ran into the second layer of traps waiting for them.

‘Fire the mortars!’ ordered Matan, hearing the reassuring sounds of something going over his head before the inevitable reaction of explosions in the air, followed by shrapnel and grape shots tearing into the orks bellow the mortar detonations.

Running in front of his mob, Mulkorf tripped on something as he fell to the floor. Lying on the ground, Mulkorf felt something brush behind him. Getting up, Mulkorf turned to find several orks standing up straight without breathing a word. Looking at their chests, Mulkorf saw a long branch stick into their torsos, with sharp spikes sticking out all over the branch with blood flowing down the branch’s spine. Turning round to continue running, Mulkorf fell to the ground as a smoking crater billowed from his forehead as he laid dead.

‘Nice shot Matan,’ said Kapela as he saw him take out an ork with a clear headshot after it survived a Lashing Branch trap. Getting up off the ground, Matan dropped his lasrifle and drew his legendary weapon; the Devil’s Claw. Held high above him for all to see, Matan ran to the top of the ridge he was hiding behind for cover ‘soldiers of Catachan! This is our moment! Our time! To show these green skinned bastards what we are made of. To victory!’ running down the hill he was standing upon, Matan led his Catachan fighters towards the orks as they carefully avoided the traps they had laid.

Rushing into the oncoming horde of orks, Matan level his weapon at the chest of the ork in front of him. Raising its cleaver to swipe at him, Matan parried the ork’s weapon aside and stabbed into his foes chest, stabbing repeatedly until it collapsed with several gashes on its front, blood pouring like a small stream. Other similar acts were being carried out as his Catachan Fighters laid into the orks, hacking and slashing with the Catachan fangs, or shredding their foes with full blasts of their lasrifles as they fired at point blank range.

Chopping his way through the orks, Matan began to feel drips of water fall on his head. Looking up, Matan saw through the small gaps the tall trees allowed him to see dark rain clouds forming above him. With a flash of thunder, rain started to fall in bucket, turning the dry ground into a swampy quagmire in seconds. Returning his attention to the orks, Matan renewed his attacks, the sudden change of weather doing nothing to dampen his spirits.

‘Want me to go and fetch you an umbrella Matan?’ ask Kapela as he laughed out loud as he executed a knelling ork from behind, slashing his fang across its neck before kicking it to the ground ‘nah,’ said Matan ‘knowing you, you probably sit in a tent and sip on Terran tea,’ laughing at the reply of humour, Kapela ran towards where the fighting is at it hardest with Matan running alongside him, towards the destroyed tanks.

#

‘Da humiz are tough boss! They’z kill good’ said a grunt as he stood talking to the leader of the warband as he surveyed the battle from the hatch of his tank ‘sendz more boyz out, I’z willz give dem a good thumpin wen’z I’z arrive,’ laughed Warboss Gekneck as he banged his axe on the hull of his tank, signalling the crew on the inside to move. Lurching forward, the iron behemoth drove forward, knocking the ork grunt off his feet. Scrambling to crawl away, the giant iron trends squished the ork like a bloody grape.

#

The fighting was intense, orks and catachan fighters fought each other like no other combatant could. Several hundred catachan fighters lay dead, mauled or shot to pieces by their greenish enemies but unlike other humans, fear was something with which the sons of Catachan have learned to live with, to be snuffed out by the myriad deaths that haunt its jungle planet, and with those hard lessons hammered into them, they have become a formidable force to be reckoned with, and it’s the battlefield within the jungles of Kaybah that the orks shall learn of this fact.

‘Die you son of a bitch!’ yelled Kapela as he mowed down a group of orks that charged at him as he stood on the burning wreckage of a destroyed Hellhound, the fire persisting to blaze while rain poured from the darken heavens.

‘Their numbers are thinning,’ shouted Matan, as he tried to make his voice heard through the calamity of the battle and thunderstorm ragging above him.

As the catachans and orks fought, the ground started to shake; even the wrecked light and heavy tanks began shuddering under the vibration. The sound of trees snapped above the sound of the thunder and lightning, with the squeak of metal and grinding rocks.

A monstrosity from the Forges of Lucius loomed through the jungle, its menacing visage scarred by the crude workings its own has blasphemed it with. ‘Diz I’z gonna be funz!’ yelled Gekneck as he bashed the pommel of his axe on the hull of the Baneblade, signalling the crew to open fire.

Opening fire with its side sponsors, tracer rounds of green and copper sprayed out before it as lascannons and twined heavy bolters fired, cutting down catachans and orks alike.

Hiding behind an overturned Chimera, Matan watched Kapela jumping off the Hellhound as bullets raked the other side of where he hid behind ‘Kapela! We have to find away to get to its flanks!’ yelled Matan over the roaring fire being ‘Aye! But it has the advantage, its covering all the killing grounds!’ replied Kapela as he pointed at the open areas that the bullets is firing upon, Catachans and orks lying dead, their bodies ripped to pieces by the continuous fire.

With the dim sound of moving machinery and hydraulics, the main turret began to rotate towards its left, aiming at the catachans that are stuck in pitched battle with a mob of orks ‘Fire!’ yelled Gekneck as he bashed his axe on the tanks hull.

Exiting from the Mega Battle Cannon, a shell as large as a man flew from its confines as the mighty kinetic forces being exerted on it, forced it to fly out of the muzzle of the cannon, smoke and steam billowing out after it as it wafted in the rain filled air.

Landing in the midst of the combatants, the shell detonated as its warhead ignited the fuse inside, releasing the power of a god on the small stretch of land, casting the fighters to all around the edges of the jungle with black smoke drifting from their burnt corpses.

‘Holy Emperor!’ yelled Matan as he watched the godlike power the Baneblade exuded, transforming all that is touched by its awesome power into dust, casting lesser destroyed ones across the jungle and landing in ruin piles of flesh and bone.

Looking round the edge of his chimera, Matan saw the tank move forward again, towards the gap between the chimera and hellhound. Backing away from the edge, Matan saw the Baneblade looming over the tank like a predatory shark on the hunt, its giant turret acting as its fin. With power and weight, the Hellhound and Chimera began to move back as they were pushed out of the Baneblade’s path.

Vaulting up along the Chimera’s tracks, Matan rushed up onto the top of its hull and ran towards the Baneblade. Lurching beneath his feet, the Chimera began to lurch towards its side. Hopping off the Chimera, Matan jumped with outstretch hands, grabbing the ledge of the tank as the Chimera turned over to its side and onto its back, the Baneblade lifting upwards as it rolled on top of it, crushing the upturned chassis into flattened steel.

Carried along the side of the Baneblade, Matan struggled to haul himself up over the lip of the tank. Deafening to his ears, the twin-linker heavy bolters blazed with fury as the gunner fired furiously at the battlefield occupants, succeeding in sending hundreds of bullets to the wind than hitting anything of use. Turning closer to him, Matan placed his foot on the guns muzzle, using it to help push him over the tank’s ledge, climbing the turret of the lascannon above the heavy bolters.

Rocking back and forth, Matan struggled to hold his balance on the moving fortress. Surveying the battle, Matan saw the orks overwhelming the Catachan fighter’s positions, confident with their juggernaut of destruction at their backing.

Hearing twisting metal, Matan turned to see the tank’s turret turned towards him. Jumping over the cylinder pole of the turret, Matan lost his footing as he leapt over, tripping over the gun’s mussel. Rolling down the front slope of the tank’s armour, Matan dropped his Devil’s Claw as he scrambled to grab hold on something. Reaching out, Matan grabbed hold of a jutting piece of metal, halting his descent as his legs dangled precariously over the front of the Baneblade.

Conjuring his strength, Matan began to lift his legs back up and over the front of the tank. Finally back on solid ground, Matan frantically looked for his fallen weapon. Seeing a glint of light at the corner of his eye lightning flashed up above, Matan turned to see his sword lying against the hull, it shaking as it rocked with the tank. About to retrieve his weapon, a shadow loomed over Matan. Turning to look at the source of the shadow, Matan saw a huge ork standing in front of him with his axe raised to strike him.

Diving to avoid being struck, the ork’s axe hit the hull of the tank, creating sparks as it scrapped on the metal. Grabbing for his sword as he dived, Matan rolled back onto his feet and faced the ork as it charged at him, bellowing its feral warcry as it went.

Hacking left to right, Matan counter-attacked the ork with his Devil’s Claw, the ork using the shaft of its weapon to fend of his attacks. Sparks flew as Matan’s weapon hit the metal shaft of the ork’s axe. Raising its axe, the ork struck out at Matan, forcing him back towards the rear of the Baneblade.

Hearing machinery whine behind him, Matan looked round to see the turret turning towards him. Not wanting to fall over again, Matan jumped over the turret’s mussel with more practice, landing firmly on his feet. The ork however, didn’t fare as well. Being struck squarely in the chest, the ork fell back and off the front of the tank, the vehicle rising a slightly as its iron treads rolled over the unfortunate victim.

Hurrying over to the open hatch of the Baneblade’s turret, Matan plucked a krak grenade from his belt. Looking into the dark, steaming interior, Matan made to pull the pin when a green clawed hand reached out from the interior of the tank and pulled him into the metal beast.

Star Wars Unleashed review

This is the first decent proper Star Wars game that i have owned in a couple of years now (the last being Battlefront for the PS2 which i haven't played since i got an Xbox 360 two years ago)

With a gripping character (Starkiller) and a storyline that features camoes with well known characters such as Darth Vader, Palpatine and Princess Leia, this game was set to be an exciting journey to complete, acting as Darth Vader's secret apprentice as i carried out tasks he assigned me with, such as destroying surviving Jedi of order 66.

With cool graphics and game play, Star Wars Unleashed was set to having me glued to my hand controller as i sliced my through Rebel and Imperial troops before facing off the boss of the level, normally someone well versed with a lightsabre and the Force.

Truely a game to behold, this is one of my favourite games for one reason, it isn't you typical run of the mill killer game where you simply kill your way through the endless drone of soldiers placed in your way, you have to tactically and carefully destroy AT-ST's, even Star Destroyers while trying to evade the nip picking soldiers who getting in the way of accomplishing your job.

Besides that, the enviroment also serves as a challege also, fighting to avoid being devoured by plants, or swallowed up in lava flows on volcanic or junkyard worlds.

However, at the climax of the plot, there is a twist at the end of the game, leaving you with an ultimatum.

Desperate Ressurection

Used in a small competition that i am particapating in, the story presented here is one of a few stories that i have put into the competition. The theme of the competition is Desperation.

Desperate Ressurection

Chanting in ancient tongue, twelve Spiritseers sat with their legs crossed before them, their eyes closed as they concentrated their full attention on the task at hand.

Standing in front of the assembled Warlocks, Iyanna Arienal, held her witchblade above her head in her left hand, her eyes closed too as she invoked her powers to perform the ritual.

Slowly getting down on one knee, Iyanna placed her hand gently around the oval top of the glowing spirit stone that has taken root ground, its long, hidden tendrils reaching deep into the wraithbone, fusing it with that of the Iyanden’s Infinity Circuit.

Feeling the ground tremble under her feet, Iyanna could sense the battle raging just outside the bio-dome she and her Spiritseers resided in.

Ignoring the calamity outside, Iyanna slowly removed the roots that imbedded the spirit stone to the wraithbone with her mind, manipulating the roots from their holdings without causing damage to the precious Infinity Circuit that housed Iyanden’s dead.

Gripped in her hand, Iyanna felt the weight of the spirit stone in her grasp, sensing the ancient hero that resided within the Waystone.

Turning round and walking towards the Spiritseers, Iyanna lifted the oval stone up before her ‘with the Tears of Isha, we call forth the tally of dead back into service once more, to call upon them in our time of need as we battle the tyrannical horde that have invaded our sanctity. Sekoz, we call upon you.’

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wreathing and swarming across the devoured, destroyed landscape of Iyanden in their billions, hordes of skittering aliens charged towards the entrenched warriors of Iyanden, being cut down in their hundreds of thousands by the stout defenders of the Craftworld, unwilling to falter or fallback in the face of the unwavering menace of the Tyranids.

Millions of gaunts were shredded beyond recognition by the raining hail of shuriken fire. Gargoyles plummeted to the ground by the followers of the Outcast, utilising their marksmen and skill to pick them off as they flew across the skies above them.

Giant raging monsters cast asunder by the firepower of the mighty skimmers that soared through the air as they obliterated all before their long reaching firepower, but all these feats of strength are but nought for the loses they had lost, with millions of Eldar dead littering across Craftworld sized battleground, their screams heard by the Farseers and Warlocks their Waystones were breached, allowing the thirsting god of Slaanesh to feed upon their souls as their bodies were consumed by the jaws of their killers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Hold fast brothers and sisters; do not waver in the face of these beasts. While they still ravage your homes, fight on!’ Utas cried, leading her squad of Guardian Defenders slowly down the slope of a destroyed bio-dome towards the encroaching swarm.

‘Fire,’ Utas ordered as she and her Guardians unleashed the fury of their shuriken catapults, lacerating the enemy as hundreds of flying sharp discs carved them into bloody green ribbons.

‘Gargoyles!’ warned one of the Guardians as half the squad turned their attention towards the skies, bringing down several airborne creatures with carefully aimed shots.

Looking to her left, Utas saw a couple of Guardians fall to the ground, screaming in pain as they wrestled with their chests, fleshboreres gnawing their way into the soft meat underneath their yellow Eldar armour.

Jetting out of the newly made holes on their chests, blood squirted from the prone corpse, staining Utas’s face and her yellow armour with their still warm blood.

Fear beginning to grip hold of Utas, she continued to fire into the mass packs of the gaunts in front of her, unwilling to show her fear in the face of death. Alone and surrounded, Utas and the remaining survivors of her squad fought with a ferocity that only the followers of Khaine would approve of.

Shadowing above her, Utas stared up into the open maw of a giant beast, as it reared it reared up before. Raising one of its giant claws to strike Utas, the Guardian leader defiantly fired a salvo of shurikens into the beast, ready to go down fighting.

Bringing its claw down, the beast suddenly recoiled back as a green lance of light struck it in the shoulder.

Turning round to find the source of the attack, Utas saw standing at the peak of the hill she and her squad advanced down from a line of eerily, silent automatons, each a large giant cannon in their arm hands, their featureless glass paned faces regarding the scene before them in silence.

But standing above them all, a giant creature similar to its smaller brethren towered over them as it unleashed its shoulder mounted bright lance, the green beams of light destroying all who was touched by it.

Standing in front of the Wraithguards, a warlock lifted her witchblade above her head as it ignited with purple warp fire ‘warriors of the dead let loose of your anger and hatred, let not these invaders be our undoing!’ said the warlock as she pointed her sword dramatically at the Tyranid brood.

Raising their wraithcannons, the Wraithguards sent a volley towards the swarm surrounding the guardians, briefly tearing an opening into the warp before disappearing, leaving only carnage as limbs and entire creatures are sent to their doom within the warp, they’re only evidence of existence is that of a bloody green pool on the ground.

Charging down the hill, the Wraithlord hefted his long, elegant sword in its right hand, readying itself for the oncoming bout with the wounded but still living Broodlord.

Roaring at the Wraithlord, the Broodlord lumbered forward, stampeding up the slop. Diving out of the way, Utas leapt to avoid being crushed underfoot.

Swining its sword from the right, the Wraithblade clanged from the Carnifex’s left claw before attacking it again. Raising its right claw, the Broodlord brought the claw down, narrowly hitting the Wraithlord as it sidestepped the attack.

Attacking upwards, the Wraithlord chopped the claw at the joint, green blood gushing from the word. Its flank exposed, the Wraithlord plunged the blade deep into the Broodlord’s skull, retracting the blade and sidestepping again as the beast fell.

With their leadership temporarily disrupted, the brood mingled about mindlessly before retreating, the Wraithguards still pursing them.

Staring up with wide eyes, Utas watched as the Wraithlord at her ‘you fought bravely young one,’ said the Wraithlord ‘who… who are you?’ Utas asked.

‘My name is Sekoz, I have been brought back to Iyanden’s service,’ announced the Wraithlord. Trudging off, the Wraithlord continued his pursuit.

Darth Bane: Path of Destruction review

My favourite Star Wars fiction, this tale follows the rise of one of the most infamous Dark Lords of the Sith, Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, the first of three installments, introduces how Darth Bane was before his rise and how he became Dark Lord of the Sith.

Well written and very gripping from the start, this book offers a lot of entertainment value as we witness him overcome his anxities and problems as a normal man on some backwater mining world before joining the ranks of the Sith army.

Highly recommended to have for anyone wanting to get interested in Star Wars or Pre Star Wars fiction, vastly superior to most of its counterparts on the book shelves.

Slaver's Peril

Slaver’s Peril

By Stuart000X

Fire and brimstone are the fragrances of the day. With ash falling from the skies and the stench of death being carried by the westerly winds from the ruined Imperial Town of Bamborough. The Dark Eldar, lead by their Dark Archon, Yurik, head back to the webway with their prized merchandise.

Standing at the helm of his command raider, Yurik, surveying with his hawkish eyes, studies the green landscape that they are speedily skimming across, barely an inch from touching the tall grass that sprouts from the land. Speeding alongside his skimmer, flew the rest of his Kabal as they clung to the sides of their own raider’s as the ravager’s take up the rear of the flotilla.

Turning to address his Incubi Bodyguards, the Incubi stood to attention for his command ‘A fine stock we have claimed.’ Said Yurik, to underline his remark, groans and pleas of mercy can be heard from the prisoners in their cages ‘She-Who-Thirst’s will be most pleased with what we have to sustain her unquenchable thirst. The mon-keigh make excellent offerings, having plagued most of the galaxy with their foul stench, and to be able breed and spread across the stars like a cancer consuming a limb or a body. Yes, they make good offerings.’ finished speaking; Yurik turned his back on his bodyguards to face the front of his raider.

Baring his shark like teeth into a grin, Yurik smiled at the joyous prospect that is soon to befall the cattle that he has rounded up for She-Who-Thirsts.

Finally reaching the edge of the one of the many cliffs that overlook the forested valley that hides the webway, Yurik along with his Kabal saw that they were not alone. Stalking around the base of the webway in their tall stiff manner and their gauss guns held at the ready, Necrons were swarming all around the site. Tiny insect swarms can be seen flying and latching onto the webway like locusts to a field of crop.

Hovering a few meters off the ground, Necron’s that are attached to the waist in hovercrafts floated together in a three V pattern formation, flying in and out of the forest. ‘Blast!’ cursed Yurik ‘Of all the curses to be inflicted with, the Slaves of the C’tan was one I never dreamed of encountering! No doubt the warp energies given off by the webway awoke them.’ With the webway being the only means of escape, the decision was clear cut as a soul stone.

Flying at high speed, the Kabal flew over the lip of the cliff and down into the valley below, but their descent did not go unnoticed. Seeing them for the first time, the Necrons took aim with their gauss guns and began to fire. Streaks of green zipped past the skimmers, the pilots taking evasive action to avoid being struck by the incoming fire.

Twisting, turning, the Dark Eldar continued to fire. Staring down to the ground, Yurik saw with his Elderish eyes the Necrons in their malevolent forms, seeing them collapse to the ground from their mortal wounds but then being revived by some hidden remedy that he could not fathom.

Bracing against the rails as his raider rocked, Yurik steadied himself as he turned in time to see the smoking ruin of another raider, as it tumbled out of the sky faster than a speeding comet, watching as Dark Eldar and mon-keigh alike fell to their deaths, and their raider smashed into the ground taking some Necrons with it. Cursing under his breath, Yurik watched with grimace as he saw his produce evaporate before his very eyes as they turned to ashes along by the Necron guns.

Finally landing, Yurik leapt off his raider with his bodyguards. Seeing the rest of his Kabal following his example, Yurik started to charge towards the nearest cohorts of Necrons. Turning to face the closest threat, the Necrons began to attack them.

Ducking and weaving his way pass the greenish beams being shot at him; Yurik swiftly equipped himself with his Punisher, poising it above his head in readiness for the assault. Finally within reaching distance, Yurik jumped the gap between him and his foes rolling under the closes Necron’s gun as it shot at him, coming up behind it and slicing it in half, watching it die.

Turning in time to see another Necron about to swing its halberd on him, Yurik’s inbuilt Splinter pistol in his helmet fired a blast of shards into its face, blinding it briefly to allow him to chop its head off. Rushing to finish the rest of the Necron’s off, one of Yurik’s body guard’s came rushing over to him urgently ‘my Lord! Monoliths have been sighted; they are approaching from behind that cliff.’

Pointing towards the nearest cliff, Yurik noted with dissatisfaction the green hue radiating from the peak of the acknowledged cliff ‘They’ll be here shortly my liege’ concluded the body guard ‘Back to the raiders!’ yelled Yurik ‘We must make it to the webway.’

Rushing back with all the haste he could muster, Yurik could see his raider up ahead of him, parking next to a ravager that is firing its Dark Lance towards the pursing Necrons. Finally leaping aboard his raider, the pilot took off immediately for the webway.

Looking at the cliff, Yurik could see the Monolith flying high above the cliff’s peak. With a blaze of white light, the webway activated and a vortex appeared as the Kabal flew into it. Turning in time to see the Monolith reach the top, Yurik saw it power its weapons and struck the webway with green lightning. With seconds to spare, the raider flew into the vortex just as the webway blew up.

Standing upon a plinth, Yurik grinned with glee as he watched his cargo being lead away in chains further into the depths of Commorragh, never to see the light of day again.

Red Faction: Guerrilla review

A few months ago i bought the new Red Faction game. Having played its predicessor, i was looking forward to playing it, and after playing both the demo and the game itself, i have to say that it suppases my hopes on this game.

First off, i love the destructive nature to which you can enact out, like not only destroy the cars and people with high power weapons, but the ability to demolition buildings. More often than not, i would be destroying a building, weakening the walls with my trust sledgehammer before watching it collapse in front of me (or sometimes on top of me if i'm not fast enough lol!)

The second thing i like about this game is the long length time you can enjoy yourself with that simple feature of demolition a building while all the time, trying to keep the Red Faction a float with your actions against the tyrannical rulers of Mars.

The only problem i have was the weak story line, the game creators more or less focusing the main attenion on the game play rather than indulging more time on the plot.

Overall, i'd give this a 7/10 for what you can get from it.

Roy Chubby Brown biography

One of my favourite books of all time has to be the biography of the legendary king of blue comedy, Mr Roy Chubby Brown.

His name for many years has been notorious to hear of, some of the jokes and comments surrounding him making my curiostiy grow to know him. Being from the Northeast his name is quite common to hear of so when his film Chubby Brown Down Under, basiclly about him and his tour of Austrialia.

I watched and i found him hilariously funny, very offensive, not one for the faint of heart but i found him funny none the less.

Wanting to learn more about him, i bought his biography last year (2008) and read up about it, and i have to say it was something entirely different to what i had come to expect.

Born in Redcar, Chubby Brown didn't have quite a warm upbringing, with his dad ruling the roost of the house in your typical 40s 50s type of man in the sense he got the best before everyone else.

Unable to live with it anymore, Roy's mother left Roy and his father for another man in Blackpool with Roy's sister, leaving Roy with no mother in his life, only meeting her briefly later in his life (she died soon afterwards). With no else to take up the slack, Roy took his mother's place in the scheme of things in reference to the upkeep to the house and looking after his father. However, this was all to change when his dad got a new girlfriend.

Moving in and practically taking over the house, the girlfriend and her children took Roy's bedroom and damaged and destroyed some of his toy models (which he worked extremely hard to build and paint) with the dad forever taking the side of his girlfriend over his only son.

Unable to live with him either, Roy left his home and slept rough in a unused boat until a policeman discovered him and took him to a shelter for the young.

Working his way up with no love or support, Roy would go on to work in construction as a lorry driver, folk lift driver, a masoner and a cook in the merchant navy. Subsequently leaving or thrown out of the jobs, Roy soon took the path of crime and ended up in Borstal, the nortorious prison for youths.

Unless you seen the 1981 film Scum then you will how aweful of a place Borstal was, with rapings, murders, thefts and police corruption being a common norm within its walls. Leaving the place, Roy joined a small well known pop band where they made hits and played at local clubs and pubs.

Soon learning the ropes of comedy, Roy left the band in pursuit of a career in the limelight.

I won't go on any further into the story, this being only a simple tastier but the story is truely a heartfelt experience, being able to empathise with a man who seemed to lack so many things in his early life, money, love, a family to name but a few, and eventually finding all he could want and need by the end of the story.

Batman Arkham Ayslum review

Like the title says i recently bought the new Batman game for the 360 and i have to say that it is a superb game to have, one of the best this year.

The game starts off with Batman having arrested the Joker in one of his plots to destroy Gotham. Taking him to Arham Asylum, the Batman witnesses the Joker making his escape and releasing the mad the prisoners on Batman in his efforts to stop, destroy and annoy Batman from foiling his plan once again.

Having played this two times in a row (first on normal, then on hard level) i have to say i can't get enough of this game, with gadgets and lots of fighting techniques to dish out on the Joker's goons, and subsequently, the bosses along the way.

Voiced by Kevin Conroy from the 90s Batman animate series, Batman is truely brought to life in this game by this veteran voice actor. Also, voicing the Joker again is none other than Mark Hamill (aka Luke Skywalker) from the same Batman series, making the Joker sinister as ever in his evil plots.

Not wanting to go into much detail as into the plot of the story and who will be appearing but you will see glimpses of Batman being put through reigorist trials, not of just the body and mind, but also the soul as he must face his fears.

Overall, i rate this game a 10/10 stars for brilliance, cutting graphics, great game play, epic story line and actors. It is certainly a game i recommend getting if your into both solving things and puzzles set by the Riddler, and also fighting fighting men with machines guns at the same time.

Battle of Skalathrax
By Stuart000X

Snow slowly drifted down from the white pale skies as the black sun set itself in the western horizon, but sounds of battle still raged on the daemon world of Skalathrax as the legions of the World Eaters and The Emperor’s children fought for supremacy over its lands.

Down in the snow filled streets of an unnamed, ruined city, the berzerkers of the World Eaters charged in mass across the open snow plains towards their entrenched enemies ‘BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!’ yelled Adrex as he led his squad of berzerkers, splintering off from the main body of World Eaters, seeing a small knot of enemy near by, raising his chainaxe as he leapt for the closest enemy.

Jumping high, Adrex landed before a marine, his pink colour armour stained with frozen blood. Cleaving with his screaming axe, sparks flew as the chainaxe touched the pauldron of the marine, cutting through his collar bone down through his hip, splitting the marine apart right down the middle.

Whirling round, Adrex chopped through another marine’s head off from its neck, carrying onwards until it landed into the side of another marine’s torso. Grunting as the weapon hit, the marine had enough time to turn to look at Adrex before he roared in rage as he triggered the weapon’s saw, the marine cried with ecstasy as the axe bit its way through his innards. Toppling the marine looked up with blood filled eyes as he saw his legs still standing before him, with strands of intestines connecting him to his legs.

Placing his foot on the dying marine’s chest, Adrex brought his axe high before bringing it back to earth and chopping his head off, the marine laughing until died.

His head rolling around franticly, the marine saw the stump of his neck before rolling his eyes back into his socket, his brain finally registering his death.

Grabbing the dead marine’s head by the hair, Adrex roared with animalist joy ‘SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE,’ intoned Adrex before being thrown off balance and onto the floor. Scrambling back to his feet, Adrex saw reinforcements advancing through the large gaps in the walls of an unmarked building in front of him. Holding lengthy weapons in their hands, the enemy unleashed their daemonic weapons power towards Adrex’s marines.

Hit full force, some of the berzerkers fell screaming as they clutched themselves, their bodies being ripped apart by the sonic forces being channelled at them. ‘Kill them!’ yelled Adrex as he and his remaining berzerkers charged across the ruin street towards the enemy.

Halfway across the street, the noise marines fired again, killing two more berzerkers. Getting closer, a noise marine with pipes and tubes protruding from and into every orifice on his body stepped forward in front of his squad. Twisting some nozzles on his chest, the marine screeched before him, the air between him and the berzerkers waving as the sound wave flew through air.

The noise passed the berzerkers, causing great pain to Adrex as he dropped his axe and held his ears inside his helmet. Watching through watery eyes, Adrex witnessed his marines in front of him collapsed dead on the ground. Through gritted teeth, Adrex picked his axe up and began to run again to the enemy.

Unleashing their long sonic blasts again, Adrex rolled to the left to avoid being hit. Grabbing his bolt pistol from its holster, Adrex fired at the noise marines as he closed the distance. Hitting one of the marines in the head, it toppled like a lead weight as it died a bloody, smoking crater on its forehead. Another dropped his weapon as his arm exploded at the elbow, blood briefly gushing out before this astartes physiology clotted his stump.

Looking at his wound before looking at Adrex, he cackled as the drugs implanted into him by apothecary Fabius Bile started to flow into his nervous systems. Watching, he saw the axe’s chains whirl before him as the axe connected with his helmet, spark flying inside the helmet’s interior, blinding him for a brief second before the axe chewed through his face.

Turning to charge the enemy, the noise marines aimed their weapons at Adrex, ready to kill him before his berzerker’s surprised them from behind, stabbing them literarily in the back. One marine still alive, the noise marine backed away as he strummed his large guitar, a low bass note produced from the instrument as a blast of waving air transmitted from the weapon’s head, the blast bursting Adrex’s left eye.

The remaining berzerkers fell dead from the blast. Holding his axe, Adrex threw the axe at the marine. Hitting the marine’s weapon, the axe severed the instrument’s cords, denying him another chance of another note. Adrex rushed forward and punched the marine in the face, blood spurting from a gash on its face.

Punching the marine, Adrex felt pain bloom from his stomach as the enemy used his gun as a club, butting him with it. Raising his blastmaster, the marine made to bash Adrex on the head but Adrex side stepped and slashed the marine’s arm with his combat knife. Its nerves severed, the marine dropped the weapon as his arm went limp, laughing with joy in replacement to howls of pain.

Injured but not dead, the marine came at Adrex, rushing headlong at him. Willing to meet him halfway, Adrex counter charged, holding his knife up in readiness for the next strike. Within distance, Adrex struck out at the marine but his foe ducked his blow, coming back up before he swung round at him, using his limp arm as a club.

Dazed by the blow, Adrex was shoved to the ground as the noise marine drove into him with his shoulders, his combat knife falling out of his hand and skittering away from his reach. Kicking and stomping Adrex laid on the wintry ground as he raised his arms in defence of the assault.

Turning away from the attack, Adrex saw his chainaxe lying against a snow caked rock. Kicking upwards with his leg, Adrex kicked his attacked in the side, causing him stumbled backwards. Rolling towards his axe, Adrex got back to his feet and turned to finish off his enemy. But suddenly the sky started to go dark. Turning west, Adrex saw the sun disappear behind the horizon, feeling the temperatures plummet.

Running away, Adrex saw his foe run off in the opposite direction along with the rest of the Emperor’s Children. Roaring in anger, Adrex began to run, falling behind a cohort of bloodied berzerkers. Heading for the safety of a building, the World Eaters entered the building, flames flickering on the inside.

The last one in, Adrex nodded at some of his fellow berzserkers in greetings to them, recognising some of his comrades. Huddling round several lit fires, the berzerkers began to brood over the days events ‘damn this place and its days frost,’ said Khor as he spat in anger into the fire ‘tomorrow morning we’ll give them feather boys the fight of their lives,’ mussed Hekon as he played with his chainsword.

Hurried footsteps could be heard from the corridors next to the room with the berzerkers in. Raising their weapons for what they thought was a surprise attack by the Emperor’s Children; the assembled warriors lowered their weapons when they saw one of their own in the doorway.

Bloody from head to toe, Khârn, captain of the 8th Assault Company and personnel equerry to Angron, primarch of the World Eaters, stood in the doorway like a vision from a nightmare, his shadowed form lit by the flicking blue flames of the flame he held in his right hand. Hefting the legendary Gorechild in his right hand, Khârn lifted his flamer up at the unexpected host and hosed them with promethium flame.

Fire washed over the room, lighting the walls in flames. Yells of chaos erupted in the confines of the room as the berzerkers tried to make sense of what is going on. Taking the moment of surprise, Khârn charged forth, firing the flamer at three marines, engulfing them in flames, their screams echoing in the room as they cooked within their armour.

Dropping the flamer onto the floor, Khârn picked up his plasma pistol in his left hand and began to charge at his fellow marines. Lifting his axe, Khârn chopped through the first bunch of marines with ease, slicing through their ceramite armour like a hot knife through butter. Firing his plasma pistol at a closest warriors, Khârn watched as the plasma hit and melted the warrior’s bodies with blue fire, dropping the plasma weapon when it overheated and burnt his hand.

Hefting their weapons, Adrex, Khor and Hekton spread out before Khârn, simultaneously attacking on three fronts. Flicking his axe with ease, Khârn struck to the left at Khor, chopping his right leg off above the knee. Collasping with pain, Khor struck out with his chainsword but Khârn stepped away as he reversed his axe in his grip and struck back round under his arm at Hekton as he charged to attack his back, the axe bit deep into Hekton’s appendix.

Pushing with the strength that only champion of Khorne could possess, the Gorechild hacked its way up through Hekton’s body, his cries matching his suffering before finally the axe exited through Hekton’s shoulder blades, Hekton’s cries ceasing as he breathed out his last pain of suffering. Rolling on the ground, Khor raised his weapon in defence against Khârn’s next attack, twirling his axe in the air, Khârn brought his axe down through the air at Khor, smashing Khor’s chainsword in pieces, Khârn chopped Khor’s head off.

Adrex watched as Khârn dispatched his comrades with ease, the same ease he had used during the Great Crusade and the siege of Terra. Revving his chainaxe, Adrex advanced on Khârn. Plucking a krak grenade from his belt, Adrex threw the grenade at Khârn as he dived out of the room just as the grenade exploded and showed Adrex with debris

Smoke wafting from the doorway, Adrex got back to his feet, holding his chainaxe out before him as he look at the doorway. Crunching footsteps sounded as Khârn stepped through the billowing smoke with not a single scratch on his body, ‘Blood for the blood god!’ screamed Khârn as he charged at Adrex.

Swinging his axe, Adrex’s axe clanged with Khârn’s, sparks flying as the weapons chains whirled. To no avail, Adrex’s weapon dissolved as the dragon teeth of Gorechild ate their way through the feeble teeth of Adrex’s weapon. Chains spurting from the wounds of his axe, Adrex rolled to the right as Khârn tried to chop his head off.

Using his destroyed weapon as a club, Adrex bashed the head of the axe against Khârn, feeling it connect with Khârn as his foe roared with anger and a slight hint of pain. Twisting round, Khârn swung his axe round at waist level, stepping back in time, Adrex narrowly got hit but axe bit through his wrist, severing his hand along with his weapon.

Staring down at his stump, Adrex watched as Khârn grabbed his other hand. Uselessly, Adrex batted Khârn with his bloodied stump but Khârn swatted his attacking arm away as he drew Gorechild up. Pulling the arm he held, Khârn swung down and chopped Adrex’s arm off. Screaming as his limbs are mutilated, Adrex fell to the ground, laying his back against a rock. Placing his foot on Adrex’s chest, Khârn held his axe before his face.

Teasingly bring his axe down his victim’s body; Khârn trigged the axe above his legs, sawing slowly at his ankles. Contorting and wailing from the pain Khârn is inflicting, Adrex was pressed down by his torturers weight, feeling as he sawed his axe at certain points on his legs, starting with his ankles then sawing slowing different junctions of his legs, dividing the hacked meat into small lumps of portions. His legs completely gone, Adrex stared at Khârn ‘why?’ stated Adrex.

Turning to regard Adrex, Khârn spoke ‘I am the champion of Khorne, blood; any blood or skulls are an offering to be sold!’ announced Khârn, raising his axe in readiness for the strike ‘be…tray…er…’ uttered Adrex as Khârn swung his axe down to Adrex’s neck.

Rolling around on the ground, Khârn scooped up the helmeted head of his adversary. Holding it up to the sky, Khârn called out to the skies ‘I offer the blood and skulls of these dead marines to you, lord Khorne, and grant me more power so I can spill more blood in your name!’ red lightning split the sky as Khârn finished speaking.

Looking around him, Khârn could see more fires dotted around the city, no doubt more of his cowardly brethren are hiding there. Built to kill, it distains Khârn that they should fear the cold. ‘Its going to be a red night, tonight,’ said Khârn as walked off towards one of the beacons of light.

The End

Infestation

Infestation

Blackness holds sway over the dark void that is slumber. Piercing through the darkness, a small flicker of light can be seen in the emptiness with a whisper echoing behind it, quickly the light begins to intensify and the whisper becoming more audible ‘Shas'ui Ko’vash can you hear me? Shas'ui Ko’vash you need to wake up!’ opening his eyes, Ko’vash sees Tanis kneeling before him as he lay on the ground.

Sensing him awake, Tanis stands back to give him some breathing space. ‘What happened? Where are we Tanis?’ asked Ko’vash ‘We’re in the desert Shas’ui. We were evacuating the vital Fio’s and Por’s from this doomed planet but we were shot down by the xenos.’ Pointing at wreaked Orca, Ko’vash saw smoke billowing from it. ‘The Kor'vre is dead. But the Ethereal, along with most of the Fire Warriors are alive… Kadik and A’drak didn’t survive.’ Frowning at the loss of his comrades, Tanis shook away the grief and extended a hand to Ko’vash ‘but they died for the Greater Good.’ finalised Tanis, tugging his arm to help lift his friend up off the ground.

Finally standing, Ko’vash bent down to pick up his Pulse Carbine, checking from the readings in his helmet that the ammo stock is full. Surveying around himself, he noted that they’ve landed at a good defence able position should they be attacked ‘Orca Gunship come… in over… Orca Gunship come in over this is Tau’s Destiny please respond’ Ko’vash pressed his fingers to the side of his helmet to better his hearing ‘this is Shas'ui Ko’vash, Orca is down, we got minimum casualties but the Ethereal is unharmed over.’

‘Understood Shas’ui, more Orca’s are on the way to pick up survivors but we’re getting readings of mass Xenos movement heading in your direction, approaching from the North.’ Using his inbuilt compass, Ko’vash turned north and saw a large dust cloud moving towards his position from beyond the horizon ‘The xenos will be arriving at your position shortly. Best sit tight for now, rescue is on the way, over.’ ‘Understood, we’ll start making a defensive perimeter to protect the Ethereal.

For the Greater for Good’ ‘For the Greater Good’ responded the radio operator before the transmission cut out.

Quickly briefing his remaining Fire Warriors of the situation, they dispersed evenly amongst the wreckage of the downed Orca, some taking cover behind the furrow that was created from the crash, others taking position on top of rocks to get a higher vantage point. Briefly looking up at the dust cloud, Ko’vash saw it a lot closer than the last time he saw it. Giving Tanis a quick nod, Ko’vash knelt beside him and zoomed in closer with his enchanted binoculars at the hills on the horizon.

Dark figures could be seen at the top of the hills before they started trickling down the slopes, covering the orange hill in blackness. Then finally coming into view, Ko’vash saw the front ranks of the swarm, most boasting a pair of two great claws while their other menacing kin hold what looked like a strange looking gun. Taking aim of the brood, the Warriors waited. ‘For the Greater Good’ Ko’vash voxed into his squad channel, ‘For the Greater Good’ echoed his Fire Warriors.

Finally his measurement system turned green, signalling that the brood was in range now ‘FIRE!’ yelled Ko’vash, and as one, he and his Fire Warriors blasted into the mass ranks of monsters, seeing them fall by the dozen from the pulse laser fire or being trampled to death by their otherwise preoccupied brethren. But still they pressed on, eager to get to grips with the Tau.

Finally within range, the Gaunt’s started to return fire, Ko’vash ducking behind cover as the fleshborers splattered against the sand embankment he’s hiding behind. But one of the Fire Warrior wasn’t so lucky, standing, screaming as the fleshborers ate their way through his chest armour and into his innards. Finally succumbing, the Warrior fell back to ground dead, still wriggling as the fleshborers continued to eat their victim.

‘Retreat, fall back behind the destroyed Orce’ ordered Ko’vash, running pass the Orca as he reloaded his weapon on the run. Resting his Carbine on a broken engine piece, Ko’vash continued his rain of fire on the Tyranids. Screeching from the skies, flying aliens on wings started to pepper the ground with bio-plasma onto the retreating Warriors, killing four and severely crippling Tanis and two other’s before being set upon by the pursing swarm. Cocking his grenade launcher, Ko’vash fired into the mass pack of Gaunts to save his fellow warriors a painful death.

The situation was turning grim, with most of his Fire Warriors dead; Ko’vash was about to retrieve the Ethereal from inside the Orca, Ko’vash started to feel the vibrations. Ko’vash turned and looked up, staring into the opening jaws of a towering monstrosity, that boasted enormous claws. Raising one claw for an attack, Ko’vash quickly cocked his grenade launcher and fired it at point blank range, flying backwards from the explosion.

Cradling his chest from the winching pain he was suffering, a great shadow covered Ko’vash. Looking up through the hole in his helmet, Ko’vash saw the beast still standing, with a gaping wound on his chest. Awaiting his fate, a great blinding flash bloomed in front of him. Shutting his eyes to protect his retinas from the blast, Ko’vash opened his eyes again to see the headless beast topple backwards.

Getting to his feet, Ko’vash turned to see three Orca’s parking behind him, with Fire Warriors spilling out of them to fire into the swarm ‘Get the survivors!’ yelled a Shas’ui, taking Ko’vash by the shoulder and ushering him into his Orca. Sitting down, Ko’vash saw the Ethereal rush up the ramp of the Orca with Fire Warriors at his heel. Finally enclosed, the Orca pitched upwards and flew for orbit.

Staring out of his window, Ko’vash stood silence as a sign of respect to his fallen comrades, witnessing the death of a planet come to fruition before his very eyes.