Ire of Mankind (A 40k and halo fanfic)

Prologue

      "Save them! Save them!" A lamenter screamed desperately through the voxcast before the lunar class cruiser he commanded bloomed into a twisted orange flower. Dominicus silently bit his lip as he watched another of his brother's died.

Defeat after defeat, it was the only fate Dominicus had learned throughout his service. No matter what they do, no matter the preparations and allies they made, it all falls short. It always falls so short. Dominicus and his men heard the cry of an isolated sector.

They have nothing to offer in terms of strategic or tactical advantages. All other forces had ignored the call with a heavy heart as they defended what they can defend. Dominicus however did not. His men could not ignore the plea. They refused to ignore the call when they were close. Just 17 light years away. They were so close. The damnable armada is fast approaching but maybe this time would be different, maybe this time they could finally succeed.

Even with their dwindling numbers, they dared hope it would be enough to save them. To buy time for the people to escape. Just a shy of 25 systems, surely it would be enough... it just has to... they were wrong. They barely entered the 2nd system when it was already in flames. The entire sector was considered to be a lost, but Dominic's refuses.

He led a desperate relief campaign as he and his men strikes deeply into every system. Evacuating what they can before running away. For a moment it worked, hit after hit they saved billions perhaps trillions of lives. Alas, reality never favored the chapter when the fleet refocused their goal. It was here their luck had finally ran out as they were gunned down from every system. Defeat after defeat, Dominicus wanted to cry as each defeat cost him what few remaining brothers he had.

Why have you forsaken us? Dominicus cried from within as he shouted for the others to move. They were outnumbered, outgun, and beset on all sides. Have we done something wrong to warrant your ire? A battle cruiser and fourteen limping ships remained to defend the fleeing masses against a fleet of hundreds.

Have we not done our duties more so than any other? Against a flotilla of heretics and daemons. Please my Emperor. Please, at least tell us why? Why do you do this? "Fire!" Dominicus roared as the battle barge provided a firing cover for the fleeing ships. It was not enough. It was never enough as their numbers were simply too much.

Why do you hate us so? The salvo hits several of the heretical ships but none were destroyed. A crimson cocoon enveloped each and every one them as they had been merely slow down. Just...just what have we done to deserve this fate?! The heretics returned fire as Dominicus watched one of the civilian transport ships go aflame.

...Just why? Dominicus wanted to give up then. After centuries of thankless and cruel servitude, Dominicus was tempted to abandon his duty. He felt it on his gene brothers as well as they were all too tired from the long war. They wanted to stop. He cannot keep doing this! They cannot keep doing- "Help us!" A gargle cry echoes across the ship as everyone who heard them turned.

Dominicus turned to see the burning ship screaming for aid. He could hear the painful and desperate cries of the normals. "Please help us sir astartes! Please help us!" It was only then did he realize his mistake. Dominicus blinked then before sorrow burned his hearts. The humans, it was always the humans.

It was why he fight; it was for the safety and survival of these weak and fragile humans. In an uncaring galaxy, where even its own kind abandoned them, only they could save them. Dominicus might have abandoned his mortality then, but he never once gave up his humanity. Not then and certainly not now.

The screams and cry of the innocent was something he could never ignore. It was as if his gene father continues to push him onwards. All for one more chance, one last mission and to try. Dominicus wanted to cry as he almost betrayed everything they had stood for. "Save them! Go!" Dominicus bellowed as several rescue crafts were already being deployed as their battle barge stayed to buy time.