Yrittäkää jaksaa
He looked around in a small, gloomy round chamber. Its walls and tables full of arcane tools of torture, or “interrogation”, as his torturer said. He frowned and turned his eyes back to black robed figure, apparently male, who glanced at his prey with no mercy in his eyes. Robed man was Asprey, a young inquisitor, and person who was soon to be “interrogated” was Dagli, a heretic captured by Asprey during a riot. “Repent! Admit your sins and justify your swift and almost merciful death done by me and granted with power bestowed to me by the God-Emperor! For what reason did you and your companions raise civilians into mutiny and to follow you to Giraudon plateau?” Asprey shouted while twisting Dagli’s both arms with red-glowing pincers. “Never! You won’t get anything out of me, especially information! Curse the Emperor, who should be dead! Emperor is just a false puppet, nothing more! AARGH!” Dagli ended his blasphemy just as suddenly as he started it, when Asprey thrusted an ice-cold sword anointed with brine into Dagli’s stomach. Flames from the torches which lighted the chamber casted faint shadows of Dagli’s hands as he reached up in the air.
“Buahahaa! I die knowing that your world is already doomed, and that’s because of ME! Summoning has started long before you can even try to stop it!” As his last word left his lips, his head was blown into thousand pieces by Asprey’s daemonhammer, swiftly taken from the table nearby and swung to Dagli’s direction with awesome speed and power and guided by one word: “Silence!” After this open expression of feelings, Asprey seemingly calmed down, and ordered his acolytes. “Clean this mess up and wake our astropath, we have work to do.” Acolytes nodded in unison, including the one who was already cleaning his master’s pincers in purifying flames for the next heretic.
One half of a standard hour before, in nearby regions of outer space.
External address, was higher ranking warriors command to his tactical dreadnought armour before he spoke out loud. “Justicar Kain, report.” “Sir, seven battle brothers and our brother captain Evind were slain, and three brothers were utterly destroyed and were beyond gene-seed recovery. Khornate daemons were more numerous than that wretched captain of planetary defence forces could count, sir.” “This is a big drawback to our company, but you did banish those daemons and recover that daemon weapon before its return to word bearers, did you not? I assume you also executed those PDF forces “just in case” as usual. Am I right, justicar?” Grandmaster Leon in silver terminator armour replied. “Positive, grandmaster.” Justicar Kain answered and after greeting, dismissed himself back to his duties around the Pride of Titan, enormous strike cruiser of the Grey knights, space marines chapter loyal to Emperor and the Ordo Malleus only.
Suddenly, red lights blinked within Leon’s helmet. Internal address. “Master, our astropath has received a message from a world nearby, called Dael, located near Armageddon system.” “I’m coming to command deck.” Leon replied and headed to nearest transporters which would get him to command centre. External address. “Who send the message, what it says, and if it’s a request for help, can we make it to there quick enough?” Leon inquired immediately after taking his position on the deck, the commander’s seat. “Master, it is inquisitor Asprey from Dael, an Agri world several times looted by the Word Bearers legion, purged by our order three decades ago. He says there’s a summoning ritual beginning, and needs backup. If we go at full speed and leave right now, we’d be there in five hours, which is just in time, or at least early enough to destroy this world before its total slipping to ruinous powers, sir.” Communications officer reported and greeted Leon. “Agreed, you have my permission to tell Asprey that we are coming, and take us there as soon as possible”
Near the last outpost of imperial forces before Giraudon plateau, was inquisitor Asprey in his full battle gear, fine power armour made by a famous artificer, his power sword anointed with the most holy oils and waters of Terra and Ophelia VII, and his trusty bolt pistol hung on his belt. “Sir, a word from the Grey knights has arrived; they are coming and will be on the orbit within forty standard minutes.” Asprey’s acolyte reported and got a nod as a response from his master, whose eyes were fixed in the horizon, where the Giraudon plateau towered nearly four hundred meters over sea level. It was a holy place for planets original population’s nature cults, before they were eradicated in the purging by the Ordo Malleus’ exterminatus. It had taken over ten years to form a atmosphere and suitable environment for vegetation and human inhabitants, but inquisitor guilty for this slaughter still stood behind his decision, claiming that without exterminatus, Dael wouldn’t even be a planet any more, but a daemon world were none of the laws of nature were legitimate.
External address. “Communications officer, report to Asprey that we’re in orbit, and send the coordinates of his location to teleport chamber, I and justicar Kain will teleport to surface. Proceed.” After some fifteen minutes, grandmaster Leon and justicar Kain with his squad, the Winds of Vengeance teleported in front of Asprey, who leaped up few inches and flushed in shame. “Welcome and thank you for your quick response to my call. As you see, weird warp-fires can already bee seen over the plateau and our interference should be swift for it to have any effect at all.” Asprey’s short briefing got few nods in the ranks of Kain’s squad, and grandmaster Leon agreed. Internal address. “Justicar, take your squad and teleport into my position when I call you, when you’re up there, order the crew to load melta torpedoes and be ready to launch them on my mark if we can’t solve this.” External address. “Inquisitor, justicar Kain here will arrive to plateau by means our chapter finds more suitable, but I will escort you so we can discuss about our strategy beforehand. I assume that chimera over there will be our transport?” “Yes, you are correct, let us go post haste.” After their little conversation, Kain and the Winds of Vengeance disappeared into thin air and Leon embarked the chimera with Asprey and his bodyguard of storm troopers led by veteran sergeant Mathias.
Asprey raised from the dust and took a quick look at his sides, not finding his master, inquisitor lord Bythrel, not after he looked to a cliff twenty feet higher. There Bythrel hurled several bolts of pure psychic energy against his adversary, large greater daemon of Tzeentch, the architect of fate. It roared its defiance as its material form began to fade, and its grip of material world slip. With its last seconds of existence in material universe before hundred years of banishment, lord of change swore to come back some day and slay all who had helped his vanquisher to banish it, and then it pierced Bythrel’s chest with its claw and thus denied Bythrel the victory he deserved. As the daemon disappeared, the blood of his dead master spattered on Asprey’s cloak and bald head, tears flowed on his cheeks and he shake uncontrolled as despair took over him. At the last moment of clarity, he made a wow that would affect him rest of his life “Here and now, I swear to fight against lords of change wherever I find them, and come to banish them if I hear of them manifesting elsewhere. Let my master, inquisitor lord Bythrel the just and our honoured Emperor be my witnesses and judges if I break my oath, which is second only to my oath of loyalty to Emperor in importance.” After uttering these words, Asprey passed away and fell to small pool of blood, some of it was his masters, but most of it was his own.
As the chimera roared forward, Mathias looked at Leon and spoke out. “Excuse me grandmaster sir, but what are our chances of survival in this future encounter? Do you have any idea of what we are going to face?” External address. “Your questions are good, but I am not the right person for you to ask those. Your master here sure knows this very situation better, but if you insist, I can tell about daemons and these kinds of things in general. All exact information is classified from inferior beings like you mere humans. There are three kinds of daemons. There are daemons like bloodletters, which are normal daemons, so to speak, and then there are lesser daemons like nurglings and of course there are greater daemons like… well, lords of change.” As grandmaster Leon mentioned lords of change, he glanced at Asprey and to his surprise Asprey choked and looked unusually pale and spoke quietly and small hint of extreme hatred passed on his face.
“Let us hope we don’t encounter those, lords of change are mighty beings and a real challenge to any protector of justice and order. Trust me, I know and don’t want to see any of those kind anymore.” Then, as every storm trooper in the chimera APC felt chills in their spines, loudspeaker connected to driver’s cabin turned on. “Asprey sir, we are now about ten meters from the last turn before plateau, instructions expected.” “We shall drive in the middle of plateau or as near as possible and then we’ll embark and bring justice to the heretics and stop the ritual! Men! Let us make this grandmaster of the Grey knights proud! For the Emperor!” As Asprey’s rousing speak ended, driver roared the engines and drove at full speed forward.
Internal address. “Justicar Kain, are you there? Be ready to transport your Winds of Vengeance as soon as my teleport homer appears on your tactical screens, we’re going to need some backup here. Also make sure that melta torpedoes are loaded and locked on the target which is this plateau.” External address. “Sergeant, was it Mathias? Here, take this device and when you get out of this vehicle, put it on the open and command your men away from it, it’s a teleport homer and as soon as it is on the ground, my squad of space marines will materialize there. You don’t want to be there then, do you?” “No sir, I will do this as best I can, sir. I don’t have to pres any buttons or anything like that, just set it down? All right, it’s clear to me now. Thank for your trust sir, I won’t let you down, sir.” Then, all hells opened, or more accurately said, back ramp of chimera opened, and hell was there waiting for them.
Three circles within each other chanted in switching rhythm and tone and volume and inside of the most inner circle was pulsing husk of some rag-wearing civilian who sang in unison with a choir of other fanatics on the other side of plateau. As chimera’s ramp lowered and storm troopers ran out screaming to keep fear away, chanting heretics of the outmost circle turned to face intruders. As they pointed Asprey’s bodyguard with their bony fingers, their form began to mutate, and as their comrades watched, their friends from childhood turned to flamers in front of them. Asprey leapt forward with his power sword in hand and began a whirling combat against five flamers. They were no match for him. Only Mathias held his mind on the target and hurled his teleport homer towards the chanting mass. As the homer dropped and stopped whirling around, the air itself began to change its form. As heretics realized what was happened, they began to scream but it was no use, the worst had already happened and justicar Kain with his Winds of Vengeance materialized in front of second circle. Kain quickly looked around, and gave his already famous “Fire at will” order, which resulted to numerous heretics blowing apart in storms of mass-reactive bolter shells. As Winds of Vengeance appeared to battlefield, tide turned to favour Asprey with his allies, and he ordered Mathias to retreat back into chimera APC with the few storm troopers left. As Mathias retreated, Asprey and Leon charged side by side to already deplete ranks of heretics. Only innermost circle was intact, but it was nearing its goal with hastening pace.
Internal address. “Justicar Kain, use your incinerators and purge that innermost circle as soon as possible, we can’t allow this ritual to continue.” “Consider it done!” External address. “Winds of Vengeance, incinerator-fire to my left and right, now!” Kain’s brethrens with incinerators opened fire almost instantly, but it was in vain. The screams of pain, and ashes second later from last fanatics were all that needed to bring possession to its end, and as Leon decapitated yet another antagonist and looked at Kain and Asprey, he saw a large, winged and elegant lord of change emerging from its now ruined host. Leon’s nemesis force halberd crackled with pure psychic energy, reflecting its wielders hatred towards newly appeared daemon. Imbued by most talented sages of the Imperium, and anointed in the most holy oils and waters, and enhanced with its wielders notable psychic powers, that force weapon was the most powerful weapon against this greater daemon of all weapons on Dael. But battle had carried Leon in bad position to encounter a greater daemon properly. Lord of change ignored others of its enemies and floated on its eerie wings towards Leon, who had to concentrate to last remaining fanatics, who just not seemed to die willingly. Daemon neared, and reached a suitable distance for a strike in just half a minute.
Enormous daemon-claw fell, and Leon’s storm bolter arm was severed and it dropped to ground. Leon dropped also and as even Leon’s most advanced bionic organs couldn’t hold him conscious much longer, Leon decided to his first and last time shout for help. External address. “Help me; I can’t get up! Somebody banish that beast!” With his last powers, Leon smote his apparent executioner. Luckily for Leon, Asprey was free before lord of change stroke, and was able to bring his power sword anointed in oils to bear at the same moment as Leon smote the beast. It pulsed with vast energies flowing from daemon to sword and through it to Asprey, who then channelled them to scourge his victim with them. It was more than greater daemon could bear, and with its last powers, it laughed. “You fool! You use your best and apparently only powers to stop me, when even bigger threat is near your own homeworld! I didn’t expect that kind of foolishness even from you, Asprey! Yes, I know you, for you are known in our world. Not feared, but known. You are the reason I’m here for, think about that.” And then, it vanished with only a little *plop* sound.
External address. “What was that? It did know you? We must discuss of this during our aftermath in the Pride of Titan. ”Internal address. “Captain? Do you hear me? Teleport the Winds of Vengeance, grandmaster Leon, and our chimera nearby to ship. I’ll put a marker device to it so you can teleport it. Proceed on my mark. Prepare all our apothecaries for a very important and difficult procedure. Grandmaster Leon has been amputated with daemonic claw and he’s bleeding right now.” After few moments, the Winds of Vengeance with casualty rate of zero, severely wounded grandmaster Leon and a chimera APC with Asprey, Mathias, and remnants of Asprey’s bodyguard within, materialized to the teleporter chamber of the Pride of Titan strike cruiser. Apothecaries emerged instantly and took their grandmaster with them to their quarters in the Apothecary where he would be treated as well as grandmaster deserved. As Kain recovered from teleport journey, he opened an internal channel to command deck. Internal address. “Captain, Launch three melta torpedoes to the position we were transported from. The threat was neutralized but the blood of heretics stained that plateau forever. Better to strike the whole mountain off."
He looked at his long, very finely made power sword with disgusted look and a faint of hatred on his face. The sword was stained in ichors and blood from daemons and heretics. He took a piece of white clothing, and began to wipe it away with strong wipes. His trusted friend from childhoods, Mathias, veteran sergeant of Asprey’s bodyguard sat in front of his master, Asprey, and looked him doing the cleaning. He had held his mouth shut for a long time, but now was a suitable time to ask. “Master, how come that big daemon knew your name? I thought we humans are just nameless bunch of people to them, not individuals of interest or anything like that.” Asprey raised his eyes from his sword, now only half stained and with a grim look on his face. “I also wish to know that. I have encountered great many daemons, but none of them knew me, just our chapter. As far as I know, it is a rare thing indeed if a greater daemon takes notice of an individual who’s not a Grey Knight.” Justicar Kain interrupted as he walked to room. His power armour was off, only a white robe with arcane markings hid its wearer’s muscular and genetically enhanced body. “Your questions are justified, but I can’t answer them shortly, because this story extends back to my childhood and that time is long gone.” Asprey replied, looking both of his audience in turn.
“When I was a young boy, just about eleven years old and just heard about our Emperor, and life outside our planet, a very rare event took place. It was a small planet, near Fenris. I didn’t know it then, but I certainly came to know it well, but it is a different story. My world was an agri world of small importance to nearby planets, quite a peaceful place. Until that day, where my story begins. In every corner and under every door, townsfolk talked about an imperial spaceship being chased down by an Eldar vessel just over our sky. I tried to ask more, but as I was so young, they didn’t tell me much. Angered of this, I ran to forests nearby. Then, the skies tore apart, and a burning shuttle came down, just in front of me. Of course I was horrified at first, but then I walked to door of that shuttle and as I closed, it suddenly opened. Smoke puffed up, and dim lights from the shuttle cast a shadow of a figure. Then he walked outside his shuttle, and my destiny was decided there and then. I looked in awe a man who had came from the heavens as a fiery bolt of fire, who had skulls floating all around him and a technically altered man, or perhaps woman right behind him, writing everything down. This man, this man was to be my mentor for many years, but I didn’t know it yet, so I just greeted him, and almost passed out as he talked to me. ‘Hi there. Could you tell me what is this planet, where’s the nearest spaceport, and the leader of this community. Are you still there? Follow, I have to talk with someone, skulls are not a company one would like to have for long.’ After this flood of questions, he walked with me, silent, listening my answers and after I had finished, he asked me to be his acolyte, a servant who would some day become a new inquisitor. Of course, I accepted and then, after asking for permission from my new master, I ran to home and told them that I had become a acolyte for a famous inquisitor lord, Bythrel the Just.”
At this point Mathias gasped, and Asprey looked at him angrily, then he continued. “Yes, it’s true. I was an acolyte for great inquisitor lord Bythrel. We travelled many years around the galaxy, battling against daemons and heretics. We prevented about fifteen worlds turning to daemonworlds, and killed approximately twenty possessed planetary governors, before the ending chapter of my story. It was during one purging mission that our spaceship’s captain signalled that a nearby world had sent a message and asked for help, a greater daemon of Tzeentch, namely a lord of change, was rampaging and destroying everything on its path to planets capital. We had to leave immediately. When we arrived, half a planet was in flames. We dropped in a shuttle to an opening, and shouted for that daemon to appear. Surprisingly, it appeared right away, and as Bythrel saw it, he immediately began to chant the seventy-seven words of exorcism, if he’d had time to end his chanting, the daemon would have been banished in instant, but it was not to be. The daemon spread its wings, and flew to confront my master. Me and the rest of his retinue started our own chants and preaching, and luckily it slowed the beast down just enough to Bythrel for him to draw his power weapon anointed in sacred oils. Actually it was this very weapon I’m holding here. The lord of change charged, and as holy sword and unholy claw of a daemon clashed, powerful energies were freed. It threw me and other henchmen down to dirt, and even Bythrel had to bite is teeth together for not to fall. This was the last thing I saw before passing out. I don’t know how long it took, but as I stood up, Bythrel was nowhere to be seen, at last, I saw him over a hill, and I saw the outcome of my master’s epic duel against a greater daemon. He scourged it with his psychic powers, and when it was weak, he smote it with his, now mine, sword. It was clear that it was a fatal blow, but this daemon was determined, and with its last powers it swore revenge to us all, and slew my beloved lord Bythrel, to whom I had generated a very strong bond. After this I swore an oath to hunt down every lord of change I would find, and I’ve hold it this far.”
“I understand you better now, but that still doesn’t explain how this daemon knew your name?” Justicar Kain said after few moments of silence. Only lights from torches were moving in Asprey’s little chamber, its walls covered with all kinds of clothing to cover up wall paintings painted because of chambers previous owner, brother captain Evind’s order. “Well, you must know the powers of a greater daemon as well as I do, he must have heard this from someone, or something. I also have another theory, but I sincerely hope it is not correct. What, if that lord of change extended its revenge to my master too, in afterlife? We know our souls go to warp, and it is the very same place where the daemons dwell.” “Ok and what was that thing about your homeworld? What could it possibly plan to do with it?” Kain replied again, trying to pull as much information as possible out from this secretive inquisitor at his apparently weak moment. “This is the worst case scenario, but well, as I said, my homeworld lies near the homeworld of Space wolves’ chapter, Fenris. Imagine what emerging of a new daemonworld there would mean? A possible devastation of a whole chapter! As a pre-emptive action, we must go to Fenris’ system as soon as possible and prepare to defend my planet from any threat. With the authority granted to me by our immortal Emperor, I command this ship and everyone inside to follow me and obey me in this matter.” Justicar Kain nodded, and left to meet grandmaster Leon to recovery chambers in the apothecary.
Noniin, se oli siinä. Jotain kommenttia niiltä ketkä jaksoivat lukea tämän, kiitos. Tämä jatkuu kyllä vielä tästä, jonkun verran taustaa ja muuta on selvittämättä, samoin koko porukan kohtalot tästä eteenpäin. Stay tuned!
Few standard days later on the orbit of Varang…
The loudspeakers of the Pride of Titan strike cruiser came into life. “Justicar Kain and inquisitor Asprey wanted at the command deck.” As the cruiser settled to orbit, Asprey and Kain entered simultaneously to command deck, and grandmaster Leon, now fully recovered greeted them. External address. “Ok, we’re here now, governor told that there’s half a dozen Varangian Guard PDF regiments ready for a battle and two more ready to step in to service if needed. What do you suggest, Asprey?” “This is good news indeed. The last time I was here, there were only one regiment and it was badly organized, things have changed. Let us go and meet the governor. He can tell us the situation and… What is it now?!” Asprey stopped as re lights and loud beeping sounds filled the command deck. ”Sirs! Distress signal from governor’s palace! Space marines clad in grey armour are there and killing everyone!” Crewmember of the Pride of’ Titan shouted and as he stopped, Leon turned to his trusted Justicar, Kain. “Kain, take your Winds of Vengeance and halt those marines. They must be traitors, and even more vile as they are wearing grey.” “I will go as swiftly as wind, sir.” Kain replied and headed toward teleport chamber calling his squad to arms. “I will go and prepare my comrades, send me a message when this situation is solved and we can go down.” Asprey said and left to his chambers. Grandmaster Leon was left to organize functions of their strike cruiser, and discuss about the crisis with Kain through internal communication link of their armours.
“The Winds of Vengeance! Prepare your bolters. The area we’re going to is a imperial palace, and our enemy is space marines clad in grey armour, feel no hesitation, they must be traitors.” Justicar Kain fell silent and prepared to be teleported. As they appeared to the entrance hall, grey marines we’re running inside and finishing the last guardsmen opposing them. Justicar Kain saw their leader, apparently a librarian and aimed his storm bolter as his squad advanced. Bolts flew, but bounced off or just disappeared about one and half feet from the head of librarian. The warrior priest of marines turned, and as the Winds of Vengeance raised their bolters, a chilling voice could be heard. “We are space marines of loyalist chapter better known as the Relictors. We are here because of our own reasons, do not oppose us and you will not be harmed, for we will do everything we can to achieve our goal and none shall stand in our way.” External address. “Except us, and we shall not stand aside or fall. For we are the Grey Knights, and we consider you as a traitor because of your acts here and in the past! Surrender now and your death shall be swift in the hands of our inquisitor. Deny our authority, and be slain.” “So be it, we will overcome anything you can throw us with. Fidereu magharie! “Strange bolts of fire came out of librarians hands, and his companions turned their weapons against Kain’s squad. Bright light lit the Aegis power armours of Kain, and fire dissipated. “Fire at will!” rang within the helmets of the Winds of Vengeance, and grey Relictor marines fell around librarian, but priest himself was unharmed. Then, only the librarian throwing his bolts was left standing, and he stopped, stepped forward, and bowed to his betters. The grey knights stopped firing and looked around as Kain stepped forward to insert a collar around librarian’s neck. The chamber may have been finely decorated with purple clothes and weapons, but now there were bullet holes and small flames everywhere, and old decorating could barely be seen. Internal address. “Do you hear me, grandmaster? The marines were of Relictors chapter, probably after some artefact. Weak resistance dealt with and their leader, a quite capable librarian taken as a captive. Inquisitor Asprey needed down here to decide if he’s stable enough to come aboard.”
Within ten minutes, Asprey came and stepped into circle made of Kain’s brethren. “So, here’s that bothersome librarian right? What is your name?!” Asprey shouted as he pulled his sword from his belt and to librarian’s bare neck. “I’m Latham, and I will tell you nothing. I spit on you!” Justicar Kain stepped in and smashed his prisoner to back with his armoured fist, just hard enough to knock him unconscious. “Now, was that necessary? I will need him taken to a guarded room on your cruiser, and held in captive until I will be available to interrogate him. Now I must go and discuss with the governor. Tell my acolytes that they may supervise this man from afar, not touch or talk with him.” Asprey said calmly as Latham fell to stone floor and passed out. Then he continued to next chamber and disappeared from sight. Internal address. “You heard him, take this man to top-security prison and be ready. Also make sure that Asprey’s acolytes are informed properly. I’ll follow our inquisitor and make sure this palace is safe. Be ready to teleport beside me if needed. Now dismiss.”
Asprey stepped inside, and as he walked to centre circle, he heard a command cry: “Halt! Who goes there?! No one is allowed into these quarters these times!” The voice came from his left, and Asprey turned to face the speaker. He was clearly a imperial officer, wearing brown and dark green, numerous medals and pendants of honour on his chest. “I’m inquisitor lord Asprey; I have come to save your puny little planet from a great peril. Where is the governor, and who are you?” Officer wavered, sweat broke to his face and he stepped few step backwards. “Excuse me sir, I didn’t introduce me, I am Colonel Havener from the 48th Varangian Guard regiment, highest officer on this planet. Our governor has committed a suicide; he was shocked when reported about space marine attack and after ordering a distress signal, he pulled the trigger and fell. We welcome any help you can offer, and I would like to know more about this ‘peril¨ you are referring to. Let us go to our late governors own quarters, where we can discuss freely. Captain Pearce! You take the command.” Then Havener and Asprey left, and Kain stepped inside. External address. “Peace, I’m not here to kill anyone, I just need to know where the man I was following did go. His name is Asprey, he’s an inquisitor. Thank you.”
Colonel Havener closed the door, and looked sadly around. Their governor was dead, and now there was an inquisitor telling them about great peril. Only eight regiments of Varangian guard at his command at best, he really hoped that Asprey was exaggerating. “Would you like something? Oh, you have drinks of your own? All right, if you don’t mind, please tell me about this ‘great peril’.” Asprey looked at colonel, a sad look on his face and depression in his voice. “You may not remember me, but I lived on his planet once. Now when you know it, you may understand that I take this matter very seriously. So you should prepare for the worst. I have heard about your situation here, I mean forces you have at your command. I must tell you, eight regiments are not nearly enough if things go like I fear. But all is not lost. We have a Grey Knights strike cruiser on the orbit as you now, and they’re more than ready to defend this planet.” “The, the Grey knights?? But, that means daemons are coming right? For the Emperor’s sake, please say I’m wrong!” A quick sign of anger went through Asprey’s face as colonel mentioned Emperor, but he let it go, and answered. “I must say that you are correct. We have several proofs that your world lies on the brink of disaster. The ruinous powers will turn this world into a daemonworld if nothing is done, and that’s not even the worst thing about it. We are afraid because of the proximity of Fenris. Let us hope for light to triumph and our worst nightmares to be just that, not true.”
External address. “But they are. As you instructed, your acolytes observed our prisoner, librarian Latham. He was not aware of them, and he spoke to himself to keep himself sane. They sent me a record, let us hear it.” Justicar Kain said as he stormed into governor’s private chambers. He pulled a data-slate and pushed a button. A loud, clear voice filled the room, and Colonel Havener felt chill in his spine. “Bah! Cursed Grey Knight, why must they come at the wrong time every time? Now I won’t be there to study the cursed portal, and my brethren are left alone with it! They are not disciplined enough to guard it and the daemons will slay them! Oh why they won’t come to me, I must tell them about the portal! No, Latham, control yourself, you are a space marine! If they won’t come, it’s their loss! My chance to study the portal is a long gone already, another loss to the Imperium, and a victory to chaos.” Justicar Kain stopped, and looked at Asprey, who looked back with a grim face, and then at Colonel Havener, who had just wet himself in horror. “It will continue like that for a while, but all the important stuff was there. Hey, are you aware of a vault of some kind, or a portal as that librarian said?” Kain asked from colonel, ignoring the wet spot on the floor. “No, I have never heard anything about it, but all maps off the planet are in that cabin, so it would be useful to look search from there, sir.” Colonel Havener answered, embarrassed of his weakness when comparing to these super humans around him. “Sounds good, you do that.” the space marine said, and left the room with Asprey.
External address. “What do you think? If Latham’s knowledge is true, we really are near to catastrophe. A horde of daemons pouring through a portal is a horrific thing, at least to these puny humans whose world this is.” “Yes, but its our duty to help these people, and this is my homeworld so try to give them a little respect. Let us call some back ups from the Pride of Titan, we’re going to need them.” Asprey replied, and turned around to face Colonel Havener who came with a map in his grasp. “I found it! it seems like our dead governor was aware of this chamber, and kept it secret from the people. Its in the twenty sixth floor down, and there’s only one way to go there, stairs of six hundred and sixty six steps.” “How nice, but we have other ways of transport than walking, for we are the Grey Knights. Asprey, you stay here and lead these troops to that chamber; I’ll bring the Winds of Vengeance and others when this teleport homer is turned on. Do it as soon as you are there. Good walking!” As Asprey and Colonel Havener with Captain Pearce at his side watched, Justicar Kain vanished. “Ok then Colonel, Gather your troops and let’s get climbing those stairs.”
The stairs were long there was dark, spider webs hung from the ceiling and torches gave little light to Asprey and his escort, squad of Varangian Guard. Colonel Havener rushed forward to talk with Asprey. “Sir, what are we supposed to do down there? They are daemons, and you have Grey Knights ready to come from your mark, so what are we needed for?” Asprey didn’t stop walking, but replied with his steady, but for no apparent reason, silent voice. “Simple, Colonel. You are there to be a screen, take their assault and give us time to halt the tide. If you survive, good for you. But if you don’t, it doesn’t matter as I don’t expect anything more from you. Don’t be so horrified and angry, Colonel. You should consider this as a great honour to protect your planet like this and at the same time help the Ordo Malleus. If you want to be safe, stay close to me and watch my back. Halt! We’ll rest here for a while.” Asprey stopped and headed to little chamber where he triggered a homing device. “Come, my assistants, we have daemons to banish.” Air blurred for a while, and then a small pod appeared to centre of the chamber, its doors opened and nearly a dozen robed humans and half-machines came out. “Don’t be afraid, Colonel. These are my henchmen, my loyal and mostly mindless assistants. They are invaluable when facing daemons.” Colonel Havener tried to look calm as Asprey lead their somewhat larger group back to stairway and climbing the stairs. As a servo-skull floated this imperial officer, he quickly ran next to Asprey for safety. “We are here. This is it, be ready to form ranks in front of the door, none shall go up again until the portal is shut down. Leave some room to me and my followers. Most important thing: be ready to face your worst nightmares and triumph. No one will run. Commissar Virkhan will take care of that.” Asprey spoke as he reached the grey, big iron door adorned with skulls and Imperial eagles. “I give you, the Vault!” He said, and entered.
JES! Sain loppuun, wuhuu. Uusimman materiaalin tunnistat siitä suomenkielisestä tekstinpätkästä välissä. Lisää ei sitten ole tulossa. Rest assured.
