A Monster in Hell: A 40K Story

Chapter-13

Today I was going to meet the Warboss directly in battle. Considering that Big Humie-Krumpa was big, he was also quite smart: and he was aware how Humie-Killa had met his end. So he was unlikely to be flushed out of a fortress, and it was even more unlikely to just collapse the building on a Warboss this size.

The Orks, I understood, were much more ruthless than they were. I assumed that they had caught on too the harsh reality. That they were going to lose the Cadian War, and it was just a matter of time before the final offensive. So they were trying to cause as much damage to us as possible: Macharia, Korolis, Vigilatum, Prosan and Cadia itself were attacked by Ork fleets that were shot down in space itself. Wherever they had gained, they caused devastation on an unprecedented scale, so much that we considered Exterminatus.

Luckily, due to the crucial role of the Fortress World, the Council decided on limited orbital bombardment. This was carried out, followed by boots on the ground especially from other Guard Regiments, along with some Callidus Assassins to kill Ork leadership. One Eversor Assassin was sent to kill the Warboss, but it appeared that he failed, blowing up the erstwhile Fortress Illuminati. 

However, the Warboss was forced to take shelter in a place called the O-rock, a huge rocky expanse where they were much more exposed. Vindicare Assassins attempted to kill the Warboss, but while they failed... they had killed several major Nobs. If I killed the Warboss now... well, the entire Ork WAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! would be scattered to the winds.

I put on the new armor Matthias and Rampart had lobbied to get me. It was not as powerful as Terminator armor, but it had a whole lot of Mechanicus weapons on it. Gravitational weapons, a ion cannons, plasma cannons, in-built railguns, and a lot of other shiny and cool stuff.

I was almost ready to go out to war, and I wore my chainsword and my new bolter with pride---

"The Commissar has asked for you, Major Bryant!"

What? Why? 

"Very well," I remained outwardly calm. Come on, now?!

I proceeded to her chambers. 

Good god. She was waiting for me, naked. But instead of any lust or anger I saw merely anxiety and confusion. Strange.

"May I ask what the matter is, Alex?" I asked her, keeping my tone sharp.

"Y-yes," she stammered, "I- well, you see... I have this l-l-little thing. Can you, uh... see my body?"

"Yes. What about it?" I was puzzled... what did she seek now?

"C-can you notice something... different? My body looks, different, does it not?" 

What was different?

"There were scars on my body when you---"

Yes. Where had those gone? Her body was unblemished, none of the scars and hickeys I had left across her skin remained engraved on them. What was going on?

"They healed. I have no idea why. Do you have powers?"

"I... am not a psyker." I began...

"So you are something else? Why did you not TELL me?!" Her voice sounded bitter again.

"Well, I have no idea what I am, that is why. Let me say that my powers are not that of the Warp and leave it at that." I firmly concluded the discussion. "I believe you and Colonel Zhukov can maintain order while we end this last stand of the Orks."