Crisis on Ulixia III (Discontinued)

Chapter 2

"We held off the greenskin scum. We had help from the Salamanders stationed on the planet." Huji said. "What is their location?" Asked Odin. "On the coast of the western side of the planet. They held are help up with two regiments of Astra Militarum in a munitions factory and a vehicle depot. According to their reports, the Salamanders only arrived three days before you." "How long have they held that position, commander?" Odin asked, a hint of surprise on his rough voice.

"A month, Captain." Huji reported, looking over his display. "Very well. Send us Teleportation coordinates immediately!" Odin ordered. "Yes Sir!" Huji said, severing the vox link. On the terminator heads up display, the coordinates appeared and they used their personal teleporters to travel through the warp to the factory. "Brothers, call off!" Odin ordered as they got up. "Decius, aye" "Jytur, aye" "Polinsas, aye" and so on. "Hey, where's brother Leandros?" A terminator asked.

"Brother Leandros, come in! Leandros, report!" Odin said desperately into his vox. He was greeted with nothing but static. "He must have gotten lost in the warp." The terminator who had noted he was missing exclaimed. Those who teleported had the possibility to be lost in the warp. "We will mourn him when the Emperor grants us time. We still have to wipe the planet clean of this filth called the orks." Odin said as he set off to the factory entrance.

"Identify yourself!" A deep and harsh voice called from the factory. "I am Battle-Captain Odin Gorgon of the Flaming Fists first company! We are here to rid this planet of the filth called orks and find out what happened to a company of our brothers! If I may ask, who is it that demands the identity of myself!" Odin asked. "I am Sha'osha. Salamanders 5th company. Force commander in the absence of a battle-captain. And for your brothers, we have a couple in here." The voice said.

"May we enter, brother?" Odin asked, not trying to provoke the salamander. "Certainly." At those words the factory gate slid open the reveal a sight that filled Odin with anger. Many shock troopers lay on stretchers. Some had no legs or the face was burned off. As he strode through them, one tried to stand and salute. He had no left leg and his chest had a bloody bandage around it. "At ease, soldier." Odin said. The trooper instead of laying back down, grabbed up his las gun and told the nurse who was looking after him "if I can stand, I can stand guard and fight."

Without so much as a backwards glance, he hopped over to the entrance and went outside to stand guard. Odin was lost for words. These men had sacrificed so much and yet they still were keen on fighting. "He's a brave one, that one." Zoyla said. "Apothecary, you are to assist in medical operations. Is that understood?" Odin asked. "Yes, battle-captain." Zoyla said and went off to the nearest patient and began operating. Odin walked on while the rest of his company took up guard positions except two who remained three steps behind the captain flanking him in either side.

Odin went up a stair case to a room that had many people on vox stations or looking through a narrow slit in the metal. Many Astartes were also present. Some standing to guard the entrance, some looking out the narrow slit, some checking their weapons. There looked to be about thirty salamanders and four Flaming Fists. "Captain on deck!" One of the flaming fists said in his rough bark of a voice. The rest of the flaming fists stood at attention. "At ease, brothers. What happened to the rest of the company?" Odin asked.

"I think I might be able to help with that, battle-captain." A voice said from the tactical display. Odin looked over to see a green armoured salamander who had a bolter clenched in his left fist, hanging loosely at his side. On the left side of his belt he had a chainsword in its sheath. Like all salamanders, he had jet black skin and fiery red eyes. His helmet lay on a crate of bolter ammunition to the left side of the room. "Brother Sha'osha." Odin said with a nod of his helmeted head.

Sha'osha had begun to speak again "The Astartes who were defending this planet from the greenskins were holding out in the capital city until the greenskins started to retreat. The sent in a squad to investigate. They never came back. This time they sent out two squads. Same thing happened. This time the whole company went out and found that there ork Gargants out their and that the orks had been getting energy out of the core of the world to make a new weapon. It could disintegrate Astartes in seconds."

He paused here, looking like he was trying to find the right words to say. He started saying "the advanced biology of a space marine was what it targeted. It was like some organ or nerve disintegrating virus. All that was left was puddle of goo and a white fog that was dangerous to be near. It could go right through the breath filters of an Astartes helmet, even terminator, and make them cough and splutter then die. It would melt their lungs." He couldn't go on so a flaming fist kept the story going.

"They mounted it onto their xenos machines and fired it in blasts at us. It took out a good chunk of the company. Their cannons ran out of power and battle-captain Keli ordered us to hold position. The orks began charging us. We held position and last I saw before I was knocked out was Keli getting disintegrated by an ork. I woke up several hours later to find my three brothers looking for survivors. We made our way here and have been here ever since. The orks kept trying to take the factory but the timely arrival of the salamanders saved us. For that we thank you, Sha'osha."

"We will not stand around idly while our brothers are in danger." Sha'osha replied. "SIR, GREENSKINS ARE ABOUT TO MAKE AN ASSAULT!" A shock trooper yelled as the familiar 'Waaagh!' sound came out of the slit. "All troopers, open fire!" Odin ordered.