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Baroc walked the hallway leading to the great halls of the Granatium system's planetal governor's palace. As the rest of his battle-brothers marched along with him, he soon felt the familiar warmth inside him, just by feeling the psychic presence of his comrades. After marching the kilometer-long hallway, and breaking most of the tiles on floor, the Grey Knights entered the Great Hall where council of war was to be held.

Most of the walls were covered by maps of different sorts, and the room was filled with Imperial Guard officers doing their tasks. In the middle of the room was a huge round table, and rest of the council were already sitting or standing around it. The Governor himself was there, as was the general of the PDF. Captain Hallan of the Grieving Eagles Space Marines chapter was also there. Baroc knew nothing of the Grieving Eagles, but he didn't care that much of other chapters than his.

"Ah, Brother-Captain Baroc, good that you have arrived", said the Governor when Baroc and his Terminators entered the chamber. Baroc nodded to each member of the council and stood next to Captain Hallan. "Would you like to have a seat?", Governor asked. "Thank you, but I'd rather stand, and your chair aren't built to sustain the weight of my armour", said Baroc. "Well, I guess you Space Marines do as you like", replied the Governor, "we have a lot of work to do, gentlemen. General Alles will tell you more."

The general rose from his chair and grinned in agony, as he rose to his bionic legs. "This situation is more grimm than we thought", the general said, "we have reports of cultists gathering from the Warp to a certain location and doing some sort of rituals around a temple-like structure, identified as Xeno building. Our tech-priests believe it's an Eldar structure. However, the cultists seem to have open a Warp-rift, not a gate, but a mile-long rift. At this very moment thousands of Daemons and Traitors are pouring into this world and are advancing towards this fortress-city quickly. We have all of our troops mobilized and prepared, and we have sent a warning to all neighboring systems and fleets. It seems that we are going to have some reinforcements from Ordo Hereticus and a nearby Imperial Guard regiment, but it takes five days for them to come here, and the enemy is here in two."

Sudden silence fell in the room, as everyone stopped whatever they were doing at the moment, listening to the horrible fate that general Alles had doomed them in. Baroc had thirty Terminators and fifty Battle-brothers, backed up by two Dreadnoughts and a Crusader pattern Land Raider. The Grey Knight Battlebarge was at the higher orbit, waiting for his command. Captain Hallan spoke first, telling that his company would stay here in the fortress-city and help defending it, and that he would call reinforcements from his chapter, requesting some much needed Terminators and heavy support. Next spoke Baroc, telling that they would also stay, but he added that his Terminators would be under his direct command, and were to be used only in the direst need. Nobody wanted to argue with that, and so it was settled. They made up a quick plan to increase the defences and to decide which army would defend and where. They decided to call every outpost and tell them to fall back, exept those that were too close of the infested area. The main defence-line would be at the gate, because it was the weakest point of their defences.

When everything was settled, they all went to prepare their defences. Baroc's Grey Knights were supposed to be at the gate with PDF and fifteen Devastators from the Grieving Eagles. It didn't take long until the defences were all set and they would have to wait and hope the best, as PDF and their tanks poured in from the nearby outposts. It was a huge risk to let them in, as someone could be tainted, but Baroc trusted that his men would find any signs of corruption and neutralize the threat. Baroc needed some peace, as next few days would be busy.

Jälleen mahtavaa tekstiä! En jaksa odottaa jatkoa =P
Keep up the great work ;)

It was quiet. The silence was calming. Baroc liked silence. On his homeworld, silence meant that nobody's going to be killed at least in fifteen minutes. His homeworld was a real hell-hole, having some extremely dangerous species there. Most of them used sonic waves to stun their prey, and then devour them slowly. That's why Baroc felt that silence was calming. Besides, his thoughts were more free in this way, as there was no interruptions in his meditation.

Baroc was in kneeling position inside a private chappel devoted to the Emperor. Only he was there, kneeling before a picture of the Divine Emperor, thinking and meditating. A silent voice carried out to his ears, making his improved senses alert. He heard the heavy boots of power armour at the corridor behind him, and someone opened the twin doors of the chapel. Baroc instantly recognised the psychic presence of Captain Hallan of the Grieving Eagles chapter. Baroc had learned a lot of Hallans chapter. They were a second founding chapter of Raven Guard. They're colours were green and white; green because their homeworld's soil was green, and white symbolised their connection to Raven Guard and Corax. Baroc respected the somewhat cheerful Captain Hallan. He had a sense of humour, althou he never laughed, but his eyes were showing the signs of joy. Baroc had first thought that Hallan wasn't capable of handling the situation involving Daemons, but that misbelief had soon vanished. He knew perfectly well, what he was doing.

Hallan walked next to him, and kneeled beside him. A thing that Baroc also appreciated was Hallan's devoting to Emperor. They stayed there for a while, remaining silent. Finally Hallan spoke: "This is the first day of siege. Soon the sun will rise and then we can see what we are dealing with". Baroc nodded, and stood up. Hallan rose too, thou much more lightly because he wore artificer armour instead of heavy Terminator armour. "Shall we go and see the beautyful sunrise?" Hallan asked. Baroc heard irony in his voice. Hallan was surely a bit different from other Space Marines, as he seemed to have some sense of humour. "I guess it is a good idea", replied Baroc, and let the Captain lead the way out, as the corridors in this wing of the palace weren't wide enough for two Space Marines.

They walked out of palace and through the defencive fortifications to great walls circling the fortress-city. The walls were as high as a Titan, and wide enough for a Baneblade to move on the walls. Actually, the keypoint of the defenceline really was a Baneblade named Hyperion, positioned so it could shoot any target on ground. The walls had several turrets emplaced along it's lenght. Soldier's were nervous, Marines were quiet, and the only sound that could be heard was the preaching of cleric, blessing the warriors and praying for their protection against the taint of Chaos.

Those prayers were sure to be needed. Baroc looked upon the grassy fields of Jarroc, the capital region of planet Kalidan. Baroc had seen the fields many times, but now he couldn't recognise it. Dry grass was burning, maybe because someone had set up the fire on purpose, or just because of someone missed his target with flamer. The forces of Chaos were spanned widely, so that the defenders could see their full strenght.

And what a strenght it was. Thousands of Cultists marched towards the walls of the fortress, chanting the prayers for Dark Gods. Daemons walked among them, howling and shrieking in bloodlust. But that wasn't the worst of it. Many thousand Traitor Marines marched behind their allies, carrying all sorts of tokens and trophys from their fallen enemies. Baroc was sure to recognise the colours of Thousand Sons, World Eaters and Alpha Legion, along with many other warbands and small groups of other legions. Baroc felt the burning hatred in his veins, as he watched those, who had abandoned the almighty Emperor, even thou He had given them life and their superior powers. Well, soon they would face the best of Imperium.

The forces of Chaos stopped just outside of the maximun range of Earthshaker cannon. Baroc had been expecting this, as such a large force would need some time to regroup. Baroc nodded to one of his assistans that were carrying vox-casters. The vox-operator quickly gave the orders, and in just a few seconds massive amounts of mines became active. Hundreds of mines exploded in an instant, tearing gaps in the ranks of invading army. The damage was nothing but a scratch, but Baroc couldn't keep himself for smiling. Luckily no-one saw that, as his helmet hid his face, and laughing in this situation would be very inappropriate. PDF cheered thou. Their allies mocked their enemies and cheered when another mine exploded. Baroc didn't mind this small lack of discipline, as it would boost their morale and it showed Baroc, that they would be ready to fight.

In about an hour the invaders had set up the siege around the whole city. Only weak point was really the gate, as it was the only thing that wasn't thirty meters wide and made of solid ceramite reinforced concrete. Baroc knew this, and he looked dubiously at their advesaries. He ordered one of his "mailmen" to call in for some reinforcements, just in case. Soon three Basilisks moved in position behind the walls, ready to fire their Earthshakers. It took another hour for sieging troops to begin their first assault.

Thousands of bloodfrenzied Cultists roamed towars the gate, carrying all sorts of explosions and different types of rams, which wouldn't a threat to massive adamantium plated gate. Real threat was walking behind them, as about a dozen Defilers closed in on their objective, accompanied by three Vindicator tanks. Baroc gave the artillery's orders quickly, and soon Earthshaker cannons shots almost deafened his ears despite of his protective helmet. Soon after dozens of Cultists felt the Earthshaker round - deep in their skin, as they died in swatches, anlong with one Defiler.

If the Earthshakers were enormous, then the mighty Baneblade cannon was more like titanic, when it unleashed it's power. Soon two Defilers along with huge amounts of dead Cultists blew up in air, and for the first time the forces of Chaos knew what it was like to fear. Despite of their losses the enemy kept on coming, and soon Battlecannons fired at the gate. The PDF returned fire with their wall-mounted weapons, slaying many Cultists with mortars and destroying two Vindicators and crippling the other with their lascannon salvo. Soon Baneblade fired it's own cannon, and unleashed all of it's weapons, when Cultists came into heavy bolter's range. Basilisks fired again, taking heavy toll on their enemies. The remaining Defilers turned around and let their Cultist allies to die in heavy fire.

Baroc knew why their enemies were willing to sustain such casualties. They wanted to know how strong their enemies were. Now they knew it. Baroc was sure that this wasn't the only attack against the gate today.

Few hours later thousands of Chaos Space Marines marched against their positions, accompanied by all sorts of Daemons and dozens of warmachines, joined by still thousand more Cultists. Baroc instantly called for reinforcements, and ordered every man available to come and help them.

Like before they greeted the enemies with massive gunfire, which killed hundreds of men and Daemons, and when the reinforcements arrived their cannons blazed non-stop and Heretics fell in squads. But their enemies numbers were too many. Their infantry reached the gate and opened fire on the defenders. Tens were blasted of their feet, when 30.cal bolts tore through the armour of PDF. Defenders returned fire, and air was flickering of las shots, bolts and energies of Chaos. Baroc fired his Stormbolter at several targets, and some of his bolts managed to pierce the unholy power armours of their enemies. He could barely see anything, until he spotted something in the air. Several Raptor squads were flying towards the walls with their jump packs. "Incoming melee troops!" Baroc yelled at his vox-net, and prepared to take the oncoming assault.

Raptors landed on the wall, sending several Guardsmen down the wall, and charged the shocked Guardsmen. "For the Emperor, fight!" yelled Baroc and charged his enemies. He faced one Raptor who tried to hit Baroc's head with his chainsword. Baroc stopped the blow with his own weapon and kicked his foes knee, breaking it with his heavy boot. The Raptor fell to ground and Baroc kicked the Raptor's chainsword away, before he sunk his Nemesis Force weapon in his enemy's chest. The Raptor let out a howl and died instantly, but Baroc was already facing his next foe, parrying and beheading his foe. He fought through the swirling melee until his reinforcements arrived.

Twenty of his Terminators climbed up the stairs leading to the top of the wall, along with several Marines and and PDF. Baroc heard the coming of Grieving Eagles Assault Marines and he continued to cleanse the walls of invaders. Soon the walls were full of battling Space Marines and PDF, as age-old enemies battled along the battlements.

Baroc was being heavily outnumbered. His armour had deep cuts in it and he had a long cut in his arm, but the bleeding had already stopped as his increased regeneration rushed to heal the wound. He felled foe after foe and he fought with righteous fury. Then all of the Raptors took few steps back, and Baroc saw why. He looked into the eyes of Chaos Lord, carrying jump pack and vicious-looking axe. Chaos Lord raised his weapon as a salute to Baroc, his prey. Baroc swirled his Nemesis weapon few times and started to circle his opponent. The Chaos Lord circled him too, as they both waited for their opponent's actions.

Baroc swung his halberd in great arc, and the Chaos Lord blocked his blow, and quickly replied. Baroc dodged and tried to slice the Lord's hand off, but he was too quick and evaded Baroc's blow. The changed blows and neither one could best the other. Finally mainly because of his leg Baroc fell to ground, and his opponent prepared to finish him off. Baroc knew he couldn't stop the blow entirely, but he slashed his opponent's right arm, penetrating the armour and unleashed his psychic energy through the blade. Lightings danced on the Lord's armour as he was hit with this unexpected attack, and fell to ground with his dead carcass still smoking.

The rest of the Raptors tried to kill Baroc when he was lying on the ground, but were cut down by the assault cannon of the Greaving Eagles Dreadnought. Baroc stood up and watched the battlefield. Thousands of warriors were lying all over the battlefield, but most importantly the forces of Chaos were retreating to their camps. This day was over, and Baroc needed some peace and quiet. And prayer, lots of prayer, as tomorrow was going to be even tougher.



Huh, kylläpäs olikin kirjoittamista, mutta hyvin meni omasta mielestäni. Ja saa muutkin kommentoida, vaikka Proximan kommentit onkin imartelevaa luettavaa.

Tylranedit:
Proximakin saa toki kommentoida =D. Toivottavasti en tuottanut pettymystä tarinalla.

Hienoa luettavaa tämä oli jälleen =P Itse olisin kyllä pidentänyt Barocin ja Lordin taistelua jonkin verran, mutta hyvä se on noinkin. Dialogia ei kovin paljon ole, mutta taistelun intensiivisyys ja tapahtumien kuvailu tasapainoittivat dialogin puutetta.

Daemon Hunterit alkaa olla kiinnostava armeija jo pelkästään tämän ansiosta ;)

Hyvää tekstiä, jatka vaan kunhan kerkeät. Hitusen lisää saisi olla dialogia tahi ajatelmia. Taistelun kuvaus on mukavan tunnelmallista, hyvä kun on jump infantryäkin mukana.

Suosikkeihin lisätty.

Jatkon viivästyminen viivästyy hieman, kun tyttöystävä on lähdössä jenkkeihin vuodeksi ja haluan viettää hänen kanssaan mahdollisimman paljon aikaa. Mutta pikkuhiljaa kirjoittelen. Uudessa osassa tulee myös enemmän Barocin inhimillistä puolta, ja luodaan lisää tarinaa.

Malttakaahan vielä.

Tylranedit: Tulossa myös lisää tietoa Barocin entisestä elämästä, sekä uskomatonta toimintaa.

Baroc opened his eyes. He had allowed himself a few hours of sleep. The night had been exhausting, as the Chaos forces had been bombarding their walls with little success. The exhausting part were the unexploding ammo. The defenders had had to see how dead or dying prisoners were flying towards the walls, either smashing against the front of the wall or hitting and possibly killing some unlucky defender. All the corpses had the mark of Chaos charred on their forehead, and showed other means of cruel torture.

Baroc didn't really care for those lives. Their spirits were now with the Emperor, watching over his realm and they would finally have peace. What Baroc did care was the mocking laugh of their enemies and the cries of those poor wives and friends who had come to find their love ones. Many brave soldiers lied on the walls stone cold. Baroc knew the feeling of loss. Before he was accepted as a Neophyte to the Grey Knights he had lost the girl he was supposed to marry some day. Maybe it was her disappearance that forced him to accept his fate. When the recruiters arrived Baroc had no other choices left. Well, he had had, but the other fate was to go in Black Ship and be sent to some distant planet away from civilisation. No, he was happy this way.

Elena...

Baroc shook of those thoughts of weakness. Baroc had learned, that even if a person had nothing at all, he still could have faith in Emperor. That faith could never be stolen.

Elena...

Baroc thought that he needed to pray. He wished that Emperor could take the burden off his shoulders. If he would have been stronger already back then, things might be different.

Suddendly Baroc realised that he had almost took the first steps on the path of Heresy. He would not do that. He would not turn into those he was fighting against. Baroc considered of taking Captain Hallan with him. That cheerful young Captain would bring more joy in this day. When Baroc had decided what to do, he raised up and went to Captain Hallan.

The Captain was in his usual place, on the wall. Baroc stood beside him, and they both watched the rising sun. The morning sun was just beautiful. The purple clouds that lightly concealed the sun got a hint of rose pink colour on them. Elena's favourite colour. Baroc grinned. What was wrong with him? Why these long lost memories haunted him now? He had seen Elena maybe two hundred years ago. She was dead already. Gone centuries ago. Baroc concentrated on his environment again. He checked the condition of the wall. Althou it was badly battered, it was still almost indestructible. The men defending it had suffered heavy casualties, and their blood stained the light grey plasconcrete of the walltop.

"Silent, eh?" spoke Hallan quietly. "My mind rests in these tranquil moments of the dawn." Baroc nodded, he too felt the same way. "Sometimes mind needs action only combat can bring, thou", said Baroc, and glazed at their enemy's camp. Hallan watched them too, and spoke silently: "Righteous fury is the most just cause to purge those declared Excommunicate Traitoris. With blade they should be redeemed and with fire and bolt they should be purged". Baroc made a small gesture of agreement. "I need to pray in front of the Emperor. Care to join me?" Baroc questioned. Hallan nodded and they left to chapel.

In chapel they walked to altar. There were many guardsmen there, praying for their lives and families. When the two Space Marines were spotted, many of them rised to make room to them in front of the altar. Baroc raised his hand and said: "There is no need for that, the Emperor guides us all, and we all have the same need for Him. So say your prayers and chant your chants, for you need His word as much as I do."

Baroc and Hallan went to corner of the altar, and Baroc raised his sight to meet the eyes of the Emperor. Baroc chanted the Ritual of Purging, and then he repeated the Ritual of Banishment thrice. Then he whispered his thanks to Divine Emperor.

Baroc didn't notice that about a dozen men clad in robes had entered the room. They walked to the altar and kneeled there. Baroc noticed something strange in them. First of all they knelt the wrong way, and they didn't say any prayers out loud. They also had somehow discusted or sad face when they watched the statue of the Immortal Emperor. Baroc rose to his feet. The chapel was almos empty, and there were only two men and the two Space Marines inside there with the entered men. Baroc decided to take his leave and pray somewhere else, where his attention was fully devoted to his prayers.

As Baroc took a step something weird happened. One of the men started to babble something in tongue that Baroc couldn't understand, but what he had heard many times before. Baroc tried to get to that man who was desecrating the house of the Emperor with this unholy tongue of Daemons. But as soon as Baroc approached him all the other men took their weapons they had hid in their clothes. Soon Baroc's heavy armour suffered some scrapes from the laspistols directed to him. His armour withstanded these shots and he clashed with the first ones of the team, unarmed.

Baroc stroke down his first foe with fist armoured fist, crushing the skull of the Heretic with his superhuman strenght. His armour blocked several blows from the different close combat weapons his enemies held. Baroc grabbed one assailant from his throat and ripped the throat and trachea out of his victim. The Heretic fell to ground with blood showering from the remains of his throat. His head was supported only by spine and small shred of flesh. The Heretics seemed to hesitate because of that act, and it allowed Baroc just the time he needed. Summoning his psychic powers, he sent a chain-lightning from his fingers towards his enemies.

Suddendly the air was filled with the odour of burning flesh many of the worshippers of Chaos were roasted by the supernatural energies. Baroc noticed that one of the two Guardsmen were fighting a mutant with tentacles in place of hands. The other man was laying dead on the ground, his head pierced with a lasbolt. Hallan rammed one heretic with his massive shoulder pad, knocking his opponent down, before crushing his enemy's head with an armoured boot.

Baroc consentrated on the two remaining enemies. To his horror, the babbling heretic was floating in thin air, lifted there by the malign energies of the Warp. The other assailant was holding a power sword, which was flickering with energy. Baroc prepared to use his psychic powers again, but the guardsman tackled the sword-wielding heretic, and took the blade, before sinking it to the heart of his advesary. Then he rose and cut the floating heretic's head off. Sudden silence fell in the room. Both Baroc and Hallan looked at the guardsman, who had committed such a feat of heroism.

Baroc walked to him. The guardsman kneeled before him, lowering his gaze and mumbling: "My lord." Baroc took him from his hand and lifted him up, leaving bloody handmarks to soldier's jacket. Soldier looked at him, and seemed frightened. "What is your name and rank?" questioned Baroc. "M-my n-name is Raupar Tipparan, conscript of this planet's PDF, sir", replied the soldier, "Please do not kill me. Don't give me to Comissars. I just did what my instincts told me to do, sir."

Baroc took his own helmet off and looked at Raupar. "I shall not have you executed, Raupar. Even a Space Marine would be honored for such a courageous act. You have done more than many other man would be able. Now, let's go to the fortress and tell the Governor about this."

Raupar nodded nervously. It seemed like Raupar didn't like the idea of being amongst so many high-ranking officers, thought Baroc. Baroc nodded at Hallan, who seemed to be a little confused himself. Hallan understood and they left the chapel, Raupar walking with them and looking at them nervously.

Soon they entered the room Baroc had been in when they had considered their strategy two days ago. General Alles was there, and so was the Governor. They saw the two Space Marines and Raupar between them, looking very scary and nervous. "What has happened, dear Captains?" asked Alles. "We were under attack", replied Hallan. "What?! I haven't got any reports!" said Alles, "How severe the losses were?"
"Just one man, but we were attacked inside the fortress, in the chapel", said Baroc, "This man did a lot to stop them. He slayed a Mutant with his bare hands and killed a Heretic trying to open a Warp hole or summoning a Daemon to him. He has earned much valour today."

Both the General and Governor watched Raupar with curiousity. "What is you name, unit and rank?" questioned the Governor. Raupar quickly took a military stand and said loudly: "Raupar Tipparan, conscript of the 7th conscript platoon, 2nd Reqiment, sir."
"Well Raupar, it seems you've done a great favor for us today. Your act of heroism may have saved the whole city, and the planet."
Raupar blushed and started staring his toes. "I don't know about that. I think that Captain Baroc and Captain Hallan would've easily defeated the traitors on their own."

Baroc shook his head and replied: "Sure, I could have destroyed them, but I would have been late. Without you the foul Daemons would be pouring into this fortress. You should be proud of yourself, young man."
Raupar watched at him and said: "Thank you, sir." Baroc knew, that he meant it.

"Well then, we have two things to decide. What are we going to do about this infiltration problem, and how should we reward this brave man."
Baroc thought a while, but Hallan spoke first: "Maybe we should have some supervision and inspections. The Comissars are useful on the walls, but we need some kind of Arbites force inside the fortress-city. Just take your most trusted men and give them rights to inspect soldiers, and also check if they can find any signs of Chaos. Clothes can hide much."
Baroc nodded in agreement. "I think that is the best we can do right now." Then he had a pause before continuing, "What comes to reward, I'd like to keep him close to me. I have a feeling of something in him. He's a young boy, and very promising. After all this, I think that me and Captain Hallan can come up with something. But for now, I request for his transmission to under my supervision."

General thought both of these ideas, before he nodded. "Yes, that sounds good. I shall collect my men, and I shall also transmit him to you." Baroc nodded. "Now I shall go back to walls. I don't like this silence. They must be up to something."
Governor nodded and said: "Yes, you can leave. And thank you for this valuable information. And Tipparan, good luck". The last sentence was said with knowing smile on Govenor's face. Baroc bowed and left the room. "Come on now, let's get you some decent gear. That armour doesn't stop even sunlight". Raupar nodded and said: "Yes sir".

After visiting the armoury, Raupar was wearing an officer's carapace armour. The quartermaster had opposed the whole thing first, but nobody can argue with a Space Marine for too long. Now Raupar was looking even more uncomfortable than he was before. When they walked outside and on the wall, many of the guardsmen couldn't believe their eyes. Raupar wearing officer's gear and walking with their commander was something most of the people found hard to believe. Baroc sent a word for his Terminators. He wanted them all on the wall today, along with his relatively untouched Grey Knight Marines. So far he had lost only three of his own brothers, all of them in the Raptor's attack. So far everything had gone well.

"So what are we going to do now?" asked Raupar. "We wait", replied Baroc, "they will attack soon. But first I want my brothers here."
"Now that's sum'thing I've wanted to ask. Why do you call each other brothers?"
Baroc thought before he answered. "First of all, we are all made of Emperors flesh. Or at least the Great Primarchs were. We were made of Primarchs ten thousand years ago. So because we have the same Emperor's memetic legacy, it makes us brothers. We are not brothers in birth, but brothers in fate. Secondly, we are part of the same Chapter. That also makes us one big family."
"Then are there also sisters?" asked Raupar. Baroc smiled to question. Answering Raupar didn't harm him, as Raupar would hear just the common lore of Adeptus Astartes. "Because women would not survive our harsh training. Not even all of the male Initiates can do that. Secondly, one of the Apotecharies once explained to me that most of the implants that we receive during our training don't work in women's body system."
"Implants? What kind of implants?" asked Raupar. "You have to be Initiate before I can tell you anything of that", replied Baroc in serious tone. "Well, how can I become one?" asked Raupar.

"You have to be chosen", said Baroc.
"Like you've chosen me?" replied Raupar.
Baroc was suprised by this. Even he hadn't thought of the whole situation in that light. "Well, not quite."
Baroc checked that nobody was around to hear him. "Tell me, do you suffer from occasional headaches?" Baroc asked.

Raupar went completely silent. "You might as well answer the question. I can check it if I want, but it's more comfortable this way", said Baroc.
Raupar's eyes were filled with tears. "Yes", he whispered.
"And do you sometimes do something just by wishing that you could do it?" asked Baroc again.
"Yes."
"Do you sometimes have a feeling that something wants you inside your head?"
"Yes."

Baroc smiled and took his own helmet off. "Don't worry. If you can make it through this battle, I can assure you that you shall not be taken to the Black Ship", calmed Baroc.
"How is that?" asked Raupar with shuddering voice.
"Just wait and see. The Emperor tests our courage and devotion. Just trust in Him, and everything shall work out."
"I hope so...", said Raupar, and fell into silence.

They waited there silently when Baroc's three Terminator squads joined them on the wall. Nothing seemed to move on thin air. Except flies. Those damn, flesh eating flies. They were feasting on the corpses lying before the gate. Baroc felt a bit nervous. You could never know, if those were Daemonflies of Nurgle.

The silence was interrupted by a ground-shaking howl. Baroc's eyes searched the source of that huge noise. The shimmering of the air on their enemy's camp told him, that something was terribly wrong there. And then he saw them.

A great Warp-rift had opened just a few miles away from their fortress-city. From that rift poured thousands of Daemons; maniacally cackilng Daemonettes of Slaanesh, the howling entities of Khorne, flashing and shape-changing Tzeench Horros, and infectuous Nurgle's Plaguebearers. Among them walked dozens of different Greater Daemons.

The forces of Chaos cheered and started to advance towards the city alongside their Daemon allies. Baroc had little time to think. He ordered one vox-caster to send a request for all reinforcements available. Then he contacted his own Brothers via comm-link and said:
"This is it, Brothers. This is what we were trained for. This is why we exist. Our Immortal enemies want to destroy us, but I say, that we shall send them back to the hell whence they came from! Brothers, strike for the Chapter, and the Inquisition! And before all, purge them in the name of the Immortal Emperor! Abolish the Daemon, burn the mutant, kill the Heretic! Let their blood spill this day! FOR THE EMPEROR!"

His Battle-Brothers raised their weapons and let a raging battlecry, filled with righteous hate towards their enemies. Baroc started to chant his psychic infused warchants. "Imperator Deus, que est in Terra...". His Brothers started the same prayer, and soon nothing more was seen of them than mere shimmering of light of their purity. Baroc's Terminator bodyguard took it's place alongside him. Baroc kept the prayer on his mind, and talked to Raupar: "Stay with me if you want to live".
Raupar nodded and took his lasgun.

The Daemons reached the gate first, clashing against it and they instantly started to shred chuncks out of it. The Guardsmen fired their weapons, and the air was hot because of heated lasbeams. Baroc fired his Stormbolter on Daemons, his Psycannon Bolts shredding their bodies and making them vanish or explode. Soon he saw that many Daemons with wings were flying towards them, led by winged Greater Daemons. "Brothers, watch the skies!" ordered Baroc. Soon the air was filled with blessed bolts, that sunk deep into the Daemons flesh. Dozens of lesser Daemons died on massive bolter-fire, and several Greater Daemons fell down and crushed many Daemons and Heretics. Still dozens of Daemons closed on to their positions.

Baroc raised his Nemesis Force Weapon just in time to parry the first blow of mighty Bloodthirster. Shouting, Baroc sunk his own weapon in Daemons huge shoulder. His bodyguard fought with Nemesis Force weapons and Stormbolters, and the Bloodthirster was easily slain.

Baroc led Raupar and his own Terminators to next section of wall, where several Guardsmen were fighting Chaos Furies. Chanting the Ritual of Abolishment, Baroc charged his enemies and smited his enemies with his blessed weapons. Soon the Daemons found the presence of the Grey Knights too much, and they started vanishing quickly into the Realm of Chaos. The Guardsmen cheered, and soon they were able to fire at ground targets.

Despite of his squad's efforts, the battlements were falling slowly. Baroc cursed in his mind the slowness of his reinforcements. Even his Terminators had arrived earlier. Still Baroc consentrated on his chants of piety and purging. Where ever his thirty Terminators were, there they banished Daemons in dozens. Finally Baroc had to split his group to three squads to cover the whole wall.

Finally he heard the sound he had been waiting for. The shots of Earthshakers and blasts of bolter fire echoed in the air. Hallan's Space Marines were taking the wall back. Baroc saw his own Chapter's Dreadnought's sacred hull fighting his way through a pack of Daemons. The air was filled with smoke and lasblasts, making it hard to see anything, but still Baroc thought he saw that the battle was turning on their favour. Slowly the walls were cleansed of the Daemon taint, and one by one the defenders started to add their fire to defend the gate.

Baroc and his squads gathered above the gatehouse. Their blessed bolters fired their bolts at the enemies of Mankind, each bolt hitting a target and vaquisihing a Daemon or slaying a Traitor.

Then something went terribly wrong. Huge explosion tore apart on part of their citadel. The walls were left unscathed, but the explosion hit exactly where the huge shield generators that protected their walls from teleport attacks. Baroc noticed this when the blastwave hit him on the chest, and he fell to ground, stunned. Trying not to lose his consiousness, he climbed back up. Raupar was laying unconsiouss, with small wound on his head. The blastwave had affected every single warrior of each side. Some of those facing the wrong direction at the wrong time were vomiting blood, as their internal organs were ripped apart. Many Guardsmen had fell of the wall, now being ripped apart by the savages down below them.

Baroc's warriors rose to their feet, along the Grieving Eagles. Now they were forming the majority of the defenders on walls. Captain Hallan walked towards him, looking somewhat troubled.
"That thing tore apart the wall shields. We must retreat now, to the citadel. It is still protected, and we must get our men and the remaining civilians there. Baroc nodded grimly, and responded: "My Brothers will defend the gate as long as you need them to. Take everyone you can and fall back. We will follow you, covering your retreat. And take Raupar with you."
Hallan nodded, and turned to lead his men in evacuating every soul between the walls and the citadel. Two of the Grieving Eagles raised Raupar and carried him away. "Let the Emperor guide you", Hallan said. "As with you, Brother", replied Baroc.

Baroc opened his comm-link and ordered every Brother still living to his position, on the gatehouse. It took only few minutes, until his full force was with him. He gave the orders quickly.
"We are the only ones remaining here. We shall hold up the defence-lines until Captain Hallan with his Battlecompany have evacuated the walls and those few remaining civilians. Then we fall back inside the citadel as well. Stick together, when possible. The Land Raider Crusader Terra's Pride is reserved for the wounded. Leave none behind when we retreat. Understood?"
When none said anything, Baroc ended his speech: "Emperor protect us."

They opened their fire again, their Stormbolters taking heavy toll on their enemies. Still they knew that they were heavily outnumbered. Their bolters left gaping holes in their enemies, who were now setting up a demolition charge on the gates. "Fall back!" ordered Baroc.

They were few hundred meters away, when the gates were destroyed. One of the huge gates fell outwards, slaying perhaps hundreds of attackers as it crushed them with it's heavy bulk. The other gate fell inside, but it didn't hit any of Baroc's Grey Knights.

"Brothers, hold this position!" shouted Baroc. His Brothers took cover in the nearby house's ruins. Their Land Raider was anchoring their defences.

Then hundreds of mutated Cultists charged in. They were met by the Grey Knight's bolters, the bolts exploding inside their targets and sowing much destruction. Then the Crusader brought to bear it's hurricane bolters and twin-linked Assault cannons. The Cultists fell in squads when facing this heavy resistance. Then out of nowhere tens of Chaos Terminators materialised right in front of their battlelines. Sending his orders through the comm-link, Baroc ordered his forces to focus on this new and more deadly threat. The Chaos Terminators responded to their fire and started to advance on their positions. Baroc led his own Terminator in charge to this new threat.

His Terminators charged their dark kin, confusing their enemies for a second. Baroc hurled himself on the swirling melee, bearing his Nemesis Force Weapon against the Chaos Terminators, clad in their dark armours, marked with different marks of Chaos and the Dark Gods.

Baroc was dueling another Terminator wielding a powerfist. They changed blows, Baroc sending many blows with his Nemesis Weapon. The Chaos Terminator blocked them on his power fist, but then Baroc found a weak spot in his defence and he sunk his weapon in his enemy's chest. Baroc didn't have time to watch his enemy die, as he was already duelling his next enemy. This one seemed like a squad leader, and he was much more skilled than his squadmember had been. His power sword crackled with miniature lightnings, as it was brought against Baroc's own halberd. They were both evenly matched. Baroc used all his might, and landed blow after blow on his enemy, but he parried all of them and responded with his own sword. Baroc blocked this blow and took one step closed his enemy. With his Stormbolter-wielding hand, he punched his enemy's face and fired his weapon at the same time. One of the bolts penetrated the helmet's eyehole, and blew up his brain.

"Baroc, can you read me? We have evacuated all of the city, fall back. I repeat, fall back!" came Captain Hallan's voice through the vox-net. "Affirmative, we're on our route", replied Baroc, and told his men, "Brothers, fall back, I repeat, fall back! Brothers in holy Dreadnought hulls and Justicar Avalon's squad charge and help us to get out of this combat!"

Soon ten Grey Knights joined the ongoing mayhem. Pushing his strenght on it's limits, Baroc battled against two Terminators. His first blow severed the power fist of his first enemy, and continued on his second enemy's chest. Then he severed the one-handed Terminators head from his shoulders. They were pushing the Chaos Terminators back, but too slow. Baroc ordered one of his Dreadnoughts to push over the nearby building, hoping to collapse it on his enemies. When the building razed, it blocked only half of the street. But still it was enough. Baroc fought with burning hatred. His foes fell one by one before him, as his Nemesis Force Weapon severed heads and limb, and left gaping holes in his enemies bodies. At some point Baroc noticed, that just a blow that just penetrated his enemies armour and at least some of the body had enough psychic power charged to slay his opponents in one blow. Concentrating in the battle, he pushed the Chaos Terminators back with his squad. When the right gap was found, he turned on his heels and led his Terminator through the burning city.

"Brother Baroc, are you sure that we can make it?" asked one of his squadmembers, Brother Xavier.
"I hope so. It seems like the dead bodies are slowing them down. How many men we lost in total?"
"Just about ten. Our training is more melee-based, and our weapons are faster than their power fists, allowing us a good advantage."
"And what about their bodies?"
"Taken care of. They were loaded in the Land Raider when our main force retreated."
"Good. Now then, put one boot before another, as we need to run as fast as we can."
"Yes sir."

And so they ran. For a few times they were forced to turn and ambush their pursuers. Brother Mikaelo's Incinerator gained much valour that day, as it burned Terminators and mutants alike.

When they arrived at the citadel, Hallan was there with his Marines. "You seemed to have your share of the combat", Hallan said with a grin. "Aye, secure our retreat, as we are being chased by many Mutants and Chaos Terminators".
"Terminators? And you are still in one piece? But do not worry, we will take care of the rest", said Hallan and unsheated his power sword.

When every last Marine had escaped, the Citadel's gates slammed shut, leaving the defenders only one place to stay.

Baroc went instantly to Tactica Room, where he met battered General Alles. "Where is Governor?" asked Baroc.
"He will join us soon. He has lots to do, as do we all. But now everything you have to know is that the infiltrating Night Lords Chaos Space Marines are killed, and that our shields will hold. But please, you must take care of our defences with my Guardsmen. They need you."
Hallan agreed, and he turned away. Baroc nodded and took his leave too. It seemed that there was going to be more blood this day. The next day would be the one that would tell them, wheter they would survive or not.


Nyt se on valmis. Seuraava osa on jo mietitty. Pidetään peukkuja Barocille! Jatkoa tulee siis taas kun kerkeän kirjoittamaan. Toivottavasti pidätte.

Nyt tarinassa on myös dialogia, mahtavaa. Kaikki taistelu oli jälleen sujuvasti kuvailtu, varsinkin uuden hahmon(Raupar) esittely onnistui minusta hienosti kaiken lomassa. En jaksa odottaa jatkoa.

Keep up the great work!

Mahtavaa settiä , lisää vain :). Btw ootkos se sälli joka oli konissa pelaamassa apocalypseä templareilla(kaverilla oli semmonen sininen univormukin)?

Wintersun kirjoitti:Mahtavaa settiä , lisää vain :). Btw ootkos se sälli joka oli konissa pelaamassa apocalypseä templareilla(kaverilla oli semmonen sininen univormukin)?

Tota en ollut conissa ollenkaan, enkä kyl oikeen missään muussakaan turnauksessa. Ihan vaan Eldareita, IG, DH ja Necron linjalla mennään. Ja kiitti, hyvä et porukka jaksaa pitää =D.