The Mordian Campaigns

Ch-4: The Shadow of Steel

Author's POV

The cold wind bit at Colonel Havelock's face as he stepped out of the command tent, his mind still lingering on the conversation with the Krieg officer and the Salamander sergeant. The orders from high command were clear: his Mordian Iron Guard would be the spearhead of the assault on the hive city, side by side with the Salamanders. A bitter knot of tension settled in his gut, but there was no time to dwell on it. His men needed to be ready.

He scanned the encampment before him, rows of tents and makeshift defenses laid out with the same precision and order that defined the Mordian regiment. Even now, with the looming threat of another brutal offensive, his soldiers moved like clockwork-cleaning weapons, adjusting armor, and mentally preparing for the battle ahead. There was no room for doubt here. No room for hesitation. They would fight, just as they always had.

Havelock made his way toward the gathering of captains waiting for him near the center of the camp. Their faces, hardened and focused, reflected the reality they all knew too well: the coming battle would be a grinder, a bloody slog through the urban hellscape of the hive city. And despite their discipline, despite their training, Havelock knew the cost would be high. But that was the way of things. His duty was to ensure they gave as good as they got.

The captains snapped to attention as Havelock approached, but before he could even begin his briefing, the ground seemed to tremble beneath their feet.

Heavy, deliberate footfalls echoed through the camp, louder and more rhythmic than anything a mortal man could produce. Havelock's gaze turned toward the entrance, and the captains followed suit, a mix of curiosity and apprehension tightening their expressions.

Out of the fog and dust stepped ten towering figures, their dark green power armor glinting in the faint light. Salamanders. The sons of Vulkan had arrived.

The reaction among the Mordian soldiers was immediate. Some stared in awe, their eyes wide at the sight of the massive Astartes. Others whispered nervously, exchanging uneasy glances. The presence of Space Marines was always a sign of escalation-of a battle far worse than anticipated. And though the Salamanders were known for their protection of humanity, there was no mistaking the raw power and destruction they brought with them.

Havelock felt a weight settle in his chest. He had expected them, but seeing the Salamanders here, marching into his camp like living tanks, was a reminder that this battle was about to become far more than just another siege. He steeled himself, his gaze narrowing as the Salamanders approached.

At their head was the same battle-brother from the meeting earlier. His armor was adorned with the flaming symbols of his Chapter, and the drake scales that decorated his pauldrons gleamed in the dull light. His helmet was tucked under one arm, revealing his jet-black skin and burning eyes, a testament to his heritage on the volcanic world of Nocturne.

The Salamander stopped before Havelock, his massive frame towering over the Mordian Colonel, casting a long shadow over both him and his men. The other nine Astartes stood behind him, as immovable as statues.

The Salamander's gaze fell on Havelock, and in a voice as deep and steady as molten rock, he spoke. "Colonel Havelock, I am Brother-Sergeant T'kell, of the Salamanders. My brothers and I will be joining your forces in the assault. Together, we will burn the heretics from their holes."

Havelock held the Salamander's gaze, his expression calm despite the unease creeping through him. He offered a curt nod. "Sergeant T'kell, my men are ready. We'll spearhead the attack, but make no mistake-this will be a brutal fight. I expect we'll need every bit of your firepower."