Alpha Legion: Prison Break [A Warhammer Tale]

Phase Two: Approach

Inside the Valkryie, Thrawl checked his equipment as he surreptitiously watched his squad make their own preparations. He slid a fresh magazine into his bolter with a satisfying click. The weapon possessed no name, but he had spent countless hours personally tooling it to maximum efficiency. Unlike the warriors around him, he was confident the weapon would never fail him.

It galled him that they did not trust him. The choice of squad mates had not been his, yet his plan had allowed them to trickle in slowly without arousing suspicion. Acquiring the battle-damaged plate of slain Imperial Fists from the orcs had been tricky, but it had worked perfectly in establishing truth to their tale of being survivors regrouping at the outpost. He had spent nearly a decade putting all of the pieces together, and so far, everything had gone like a perfectly executed game of Regicide, one of the few memories he retained from his past life.

Some reservation from his comrades was understandable. After all, it was true that betrayal was yet another tool in the Alpha Legion's arsenal. However, this mission had been sanctioned from on high and could not be jeopardized. Thrawl had been picked to lead this mission. It was his first and final chance to truly prove himself to the Legion. Here Thrawl would show that he could outwit more than simple greenskin hordes. Perhaps it would even put an end to the subtle mockery his birth defect inspired among his comrades.

As the transport clawed its way into orbit, he could picture his awaiting victim in his mind's eye. The Semper Defenditis was an aged pre-Heresy Grand Cruiser, a mighty warship whose survival over the centuries had doomed it to an ignominious fate. Too slow to keep up with the battle line, and too powerful to waste, the 400-megatonne vessel had been converted to a prison barge for "fallen" Astartes. She had long ago been erased from Imperial records by the Inquisition, but no secret stayed hidden forever.

The heavily defended warship would prove a challenge to small raiding fleets and even boarding parties of the Chaos Legions. Taking her with only four warriors would be an incredible accomplishment, one guaranteed to vindicate the Alpha Legion's methods and Thrawl's leadership.

"Brace!" shouted Malen.

Moments later, the craft shook as it was hit by the force of an enormous explosion.

"What was that?" Called the human pilot.

Her instruments would inform her eventually, so Thrawl did not respond. Instead, he nodded his gratitude at the Techmarine. The Guardsmen's use of their outpost's self-destruct had been a clever gamble to draw him out. Unfortunately for them, it had failed, and the marines had escaped, but not before Tanis had corrupted their systems, making halting the countdown impossible. This, coupled with the outpost's lockdown measures, had doomed the entire garrison and covered Thrawl's tracks neatly.

His squad had realized it as well. "Very tidy," Tanis stated, his words sounding stronger after administering the drug cocktail.

"You could have informed us," Draken muttered under his breath, though it lacked the conviction of his earlier outbursts.

"The Cruiser is hailing me," Kryce reported. Judging by the strained aspect of her voice, she had figured out what had happened to her recent home.

"Send your response on Special Channel Epsilon and transmit this code identifying the three Astartes onboard," Thrawl replied.

"Should I use a priority code, sir?"

"No, we are Astartes of the Imperium. To specify priority is superfluous." Thrawl replied with a smirk, his voice smoothly transitioning to the clipped, imperious speech pattern of Dorn's lapdogs. Noble, stolid, and unimaginative, the Imperial Fists were the very opposite of the pragmatic, stealthy, and calculating Alpha Legion. Yet, he had had plenty of practice over the last few years.

"Understood. Transmitting now," came the response with a mixture of strain and dark humor. Apparently, the human had caught the irony in his voice.

"Do you normally pick up pets on missions?" asked Draken suddenly through the encoded vox.

"You wanted to fly the transport, didn't you? Maybe not the best fit," Malen joked, causing Tanis to emit a wheezing chuckle.

"I prefer the term assets, but no," Thrawl responded, waiting for the verbal trap. However, Draken merely sat back as if satisfied at some hidden victory. Unable to surrender any advantage, Thrawl pushed his verbal attack. "While any of us could pilot this craft, this provides us more freedom of movement. No one will need to stay with the transport when we disembark. Besides, if crafted right, this pilot's bitterness could make her a valuable asset to the Legion."

For the Legion and for him. Gaining loyal assets of his own would increase his power considerably.

Draken waved the response away. "That is all very sensible, Thrawl. I was worried you had grown too attached to the humans while serving alongside them. But I should never have worried you were susceptible to such weakness."

Thrawl never felt his hand clench, but suddenly the multitool he had been using shattered in his grasp. He had fallen right into Draken's trap. The older marine had succeeded in casting doubt on his decision-making without ever having to challenge him outright. A masterful stroke that Thrawl would make him pay for.

"They have transmitted landing clearance for you and your prisoner," Kryce reported, the confusion evident in her voice, but she was wise enough not to try to solve that confusion.

Thrawl decided to reward the pilot's discernment. Besides, it might look strange to the landing crew if the pilot was entirely in the dark about her own cargo. He slowly nodded to Malen. Unlike his fellows, Malen wore no helmet, allowing Thrawl to see his slight smirk before he jumped to his feet.

Then without warning and in a voice entirely not his own, Malen bellowed, "Blood for the Blood God!" The craft gave a small lurch, and even without the internal vox, Thrawl could hear the startled pilot softly swearing. For their part, the marines softly clapped for Malen's performance as he gave an exaggerated bow.

Thrawl allowed himself a genuine smile. The Imperials had no idea what was coming for them.