What I fight for

V The blade

Titus spent three days at the aircraft alone. No visitors, no messages, nothing. The mooring box was enclosed all the time. On the fourth day servitors brought him the power armour. His combat knife was holstered in a new simple sheath.
- It сan be mag-locked to the loins, master, - commented the robed servitor, while the serf in crimson was dressing him up for a battle. Holding the knife made him feel a complete person. When he was clad in the armour, Titus locked the weapon to his back, checking the grip of magnets and the easiness of the drawing. It was close to perfect.
- Any more presents for me, servitor? - he asked joyfully anticipating the action.
- Be ready, we are going to Abderra's surface, - answered the servitor and Astartes heard the inquisitor speaking through his serf. He put the helm on. Soon the suite got activated. The low humming brought fresh air, and the clear view. The visor showed the full charge of the power backpack, the time, and the rune S with the indicator of a decreasing distance. His master was approaching. A man in a light-grey power armour entered the box. A full ceramite suite with plates of similar thickness as his own. The cuirass, elbows and kneecaps as well as the top of the round helm with lowered visor were covered with short thick spikes. The same sash was tightly tied on the waist. This and a white cloth filled with scriptures wrapped around breast and partially covered with a gorget and a tip of the cuirass were the only decoration of plain ceramite. There were empty little leather pouches attached by a chain to the right shoulder pad and a bulging symbol of the Inquisition on the left one. A bolt and las-pistols were mag-locked to the thighs. In his right hand Sebastian held a round smooth power mace on a long shaft wrapped up with parchments.
- Let's go, Titus, - said the inquisitor boarding the flyer. His backpack was covered with pikes too, the mighty symbol of his authority shone in the middle, - the war is calling.
- Yes, inquisitor, - he came in, followed by Tapio in the same uniform and cloaked Luisa, who put on some armour too. The servitor closed the hatch and they went into the space.
- We will have a briefing with the Guard commander, - explained Sebastian before they hit the atmosphere, - then the operation begins. With the Emperor's help we will see the xenos in couple hours.
- And punish them! - added Luisa ferociously as always with the quiet ringing. Titus clenched his firsts - that was what he has been made for. Despite thousands of years of hiding from the mankind, the very possibility to crush its enemies ignited his hearts with righteous fury. The psyker told no more. The flyer landed soon and they rose up. This time Sebastian was first. He stood for a moment.
- Remember, I am His hand. And you are the tools I make His will come true with. Behave appropriately, - Sebastian added mentally to him, - contribute to the council if you see a way, Titus.
They left the aircraft, it was a sunny day outside. The visor showed 12:03, so, it was the local time. They were in the middle of nowhere - the read dusty valley with rare hills here and there on the horizon. Army flyers of all kinds surrounded them. The inquisitor walked towards a big tent, red as humans and machines crowding around it. People stared at them, saluting, bowing, praying or do all of that in the same time. The tent was not guarded; a group of officers was talking outside. Titus wasn't nervous, being so close to many armed people who would try to shoot him if they knew his true identity. Now he was a servant of the Inquisition - he was the feared one. Officers stood at attention seeing them. Seven men in light army over-coats, suited to the weather, shaved tight jaws, eyes looking at the distant under the caps. Ordinary humans, familiar to war though. Among them stood a more outstanding man. Before their arrival he must have been the center of attention. The man was clad in a plain power armour suite lack of any decoration. Grey ceramite plates, that's all. All finery was piled atop the armour: heavenly slashed jacket with puffed sleeves through which the armour were shown. Garment was made of different colorful fabrics. The knee long pants were of same fashion. High leather boots and gloves ringed with big jewelry stones and a massive golden chain finished the outfit. Astartes preferred the inconspicuous look of Tapio. All this layers of armour and cloth didn't hide the massive build of its owner. The heavy head was shaved, a tattoo in High Gothic says Obrecht across the forehead, under the broken nose was an enormous mustache stretching to the ears weighed with big golden rings. He stepped forward and knelt down on one knee.
- Mentor, - a rune J lighted up on Titus's visor, - the 24th regiment of the Abderra Red Champions are ready to serve you, master.
- Stand up, acolyte, you've served well, - answered Sebastian through the vox and entered the tent. The dressed-up man looked at him briefly with big interest and nodded to Tapio and Luisa. The sniper nodded back joylessly; the woman didn't react at all. Titus with others, including the tensed officers, followed the inquisitor. Inside the tent was empty but for few other officers, a robed figure standing alone at some distance and a hololithic projector. The latter was a round brass panel adjusted to a chair in which a servitor sat. A fatigued woman wired to her seat. A skull shape plate covered her face, cords from the sockets and open mouth connected the serf with the projector. A faded rag with the printed number 24 covered her body. Humans saluted the inquisitor.
- I greet His loyal warriors, - Sebastian opened up his visor and leant on the mace, - the swiftness of your response has pleased me, colonel.
- The honor of the 24th would not tolerate another option, inquisitor, - the commander didn't stand out among other officers, but for small marks on his collar above the flack vest. The colonel let himself a smile, - young Jacob made a clear case of your request, lord.
- That he did, - Sebastian spent no time, - and my other acolyte?
- He did his part too, inquisitor, - the colonel wiped the smile off his face and glanced at the motionless figure in a ground-long cloak, - the data is received. We are ready to begin.
- Proceed, - Sebastian stepped closer to the servitor. One officer put off his glove and poked a wired woman in a temple with a stylus produced from his augmented hand. The body twitched and the circle lighted up with blue. The servitor resembled a young woman looking into a pond.
- Colonel Arbaku, 24th regiment, Abderra Red Champions, - pronounced the officer; the woman's head turned like she was listening to him, - show the data on operation Red-1-2-4-T.
- Access denied, - glowing letters emerged in the shadow of the tent, - additional authorization is required.
- Inquisitor Sebastian Silver, - said the psyker before surprised colonel opened his mouth. Hololithic letters turned into the image of a valley, - proceed, colonel.
- Look, gentlemen, - Arbaku invited them to pay attention. He started to explain the coming operation, and the blue map was changing, being zoomed in and out, showing forces and settlements, providing distances and numbers. - The estimated engaging point is here. According to the intelligence of your man, inquisitor, filthy xenos will wait for the cargo, - officers cursed quietly, enraged by such atrocity going on in their home-world, - around the sunset. Guardsmen will imitate the slaves. The damned traitors hadn't sent more than thirty people per time, so thirty will go.
- Plus two servants of mine, - said Sebastian. Titus was sure he was the one of them.
- Of course, inquisitor. The convoy will go from this compromised mining settlement, the ride will start in two hours and take for the same time. Xenos came in few numbers but in their-own transport. So, we place ten Hydra anti-aircraft vehicles here and here. Positions are out of their fire range a bit, but as soon as enemy shows himself, they will move forward. Vehicles are riding there right now.
- Too close, - said Titus, and the humans turned to his voice. Colonel lifted his chin at him, but Sebastian kept silence, - they'll be spotted and the enemy will hide deeper underground. Turn them all back to stations, colonel. Leave two from both sides, but at the distance twice the planned. Such quantity of military presence in the middle of nowhere will alert aliens. The soldiers must carry heavy weapons with them.
- Of course they will, - colonel didn't argue and continued, - eliminating xenos is one goal. To find their den is another. Fought back they may retreat, so a link of Fighters will join the battle from here.
- Show me its stats, - said Titus. He glanced at emerged numbers, - land them down now, colonel, - a tone of the one used to command legionaries broke through, - no military flyers in the air. Keep them ready in ten Terran minutes away. And bring more, you are not the only one who may have an air support.
- If the inquisitor says so, - grumbled colonel looking at shorty nodded Sebastian, - the guardsmen might not hold that long.
- They will with me, - stated Titus, - we will hold or make them run.
- Do this, - the inquisitor said, - we will not reveal our main forces to save you. Tracking down the xenos to their base is the first priority.
- Understood, inquisitor. Do the people know that they are the bait and to what predator?
- Partially, - answered colonel Arbaku, - they know they are coming to catch some cowardly xenos gang.
- And so they'll do, - Sebastian concluded the briefing, - the second half of the plan stayed the same. Let us purge the xenos filth off this world!
- The Emperor is all! His word will be done! - replied the officers.
- I'll be waiting for your word, colonel, - Sebastian left the tent. But before that he commanded Titus mentally, - bring Pison, the cloaked one.
He gently brought the unconscious acolyte outside.
- Luisa, Titus, the servitor will take you to the starting point. Then it will bring Pison to Ataraxis, - closed helm looked at them, - punish those xenos.
- The Emperor protects, - bowed the woman, plucking her amulets.
- My armour, inquisitor, - Titus addressed the psyker, - the road will consume a big portion of the energy.
- On the board, Titus, - answered Sebastian, - Luisa will share her weapons with you. Let the Emperor be with you two!
They split. Jacob wished them luck. Titus strapped down the cloaked acolyte. The man was thin, weighing close to nothing. He wasn't interested in the humans look, so didn't touch the robe. After all, he was told to bring him, not to nurse. Preying Luisa was sitting. The power armour deactivated, weighed him down.
- The skull has a constantly open link with me, - the single lenses glowed brightly in the dim compartment, - I will activate the armour by your request or by necessity.
- Yes, inquisitor, - answered Titus holding his helm with one hand, the other grabbed the las-gun. The flyer took off and landed outside a mining settlement, similar to Orson, but twice the size - four living buildings hid a town-hall from his view. An army transporter stood next to some civilian open body truck. Miners- and clerks-looking humans stood gathered in two lines liked soldiers. A person in dark red over-coat paced along the rows. With their approach he made others to stand to attention.
- The Red Champions greetings servants of the holy Inquisition, - barked the middle-age man with a hard eye and scared face. Titus liked that human with local accent of Low Gothic, that was a warrior. - I'm commissar Dakhak, I'll lead guardsmen in this fight.
- We will fight alongside His warriors, - Luisa answered with inspiration jingling of her amulets and bells. His helm was a tomb, so he nodded to the commissar.
- It's time to go, - said the man, - heavy weapons are loaded, men are instructed. Would you like to say a pray?
- All our lives are constant pray to Him, - woman's cap bent lower, - and battles are our offering. Soon He will hear our prays. All of ours!
Titus pointed to the vehicle with his head, giving the man an order, he's been waiting for. All this worshipping of the Emperor as a deity was still a puzzle to him. Was it what he wanted from the start or even the master of mankind couldn't steer the wind of fate? The commissar gave over his cap and over-coat to a valet and mixed in with the guardsmen in the truck. Titus with Luisa came in last, sitting at the end at some distance of men. The one sitting close to the cabin, knocked it, and the vehicle moved. The two hours ride was ahead of him. Titus looked at his brothers-in-arm for the near future: experienced men, knew their business, concentrated faces. Guardsmen were nervous because of the Inquisition adepts among them, and his size could give them ideas. But while the men were thinking about their allies, they had no time to think about their foes, therefore they wouldn't got scared beforehand and that's good with humans. Plasma and melta guns laid on the floor between soldiers' boots. A las-cannon was mounted on the cabin and covered with a rag. His armour being deactivated was his cover, the skull droned around his legs. Titus counted on the automate. Dragging the suite with bare head - that would be a short fight with the xenos. They rode through lifeless desert, after leaving the settlement behind, he saw no other building of any kind. Dusk was falling.

- They are coming, - creaked the servo-skull, startling the guardsmen. Men started to turn their heads around looking for invisible foes.
- Brace yourself! - barked the commissar. Luisa produced a power mace out of her robe and putted it to his leg.
- The God-Emperor! We beseech You to protect our senses, that we may carry out Your holy work of purging and saving this galaxy for mankind, - she chanted aloud, - grant us the tiny portion of Your might, that we could show the xenos Your wrath!
- Grant us power, the Emperor! - echoed guardsmen, and Titus saw resolve in their eyes. He nodded to the commissar, who nodded back, producing his bolt-pistol.
- The Emperor protects!!! - shrilled Luisa in trance. Men clenched their fists were not let by the commissar and sergeant to grab the weapons and gave out their disguise in the last minute.
16:37 - showed his visor. It was on. An elegant curved hull of no human origin was racing to them leaving a red dusty trace. The truck stopped, playing the role of an obedient prey. The flying alien transport will be at them in less than a minute.
- To arms! - commanded Titus and guardsmen grabbed their weapons. The las-cannon was freed of the covering rag.
- The Emperor guides you! - Luisa assured marksmen. The sergeant commanded "Fire" and a thin laser beam cut the hot air. The alien craft disappeared in a shimmering cloud and emerged closer to the left.
- Witchcraft! - shouted some men.
- A mask-shield, idiots! - cut off the speculation Titus, - one more time, now! Engaging the enemy's anti-gravity transport, inquisitor, - he added to the vox.
He saw the skimmer better now, it has a sharp bow, thin open hull, a sharp keel and lots of spikes resembling fins. The crew were hidden, and the transport didn't fire back. It wasn't his first encounter with the Aeldari and he knew from his own experience that these xenos prefer to take as much prisoners as possible. A second laser beam flew towards the flyer and hit. Enemy's craft shook and tilted but didn't stop. Lance of dark light scorched the earth close to them - xenos were going to silence the las-cannon.
- One more time! Plasma weapon fire at the hull! - ordered the Titus. The commissar backed him up with shouts of his own. The sergeant and two guardsmen were preparing for the next shot, but didn't do it - they've been cut in pieces by the next ray from the flyer. The las-cannon, one man and the sergeant were destroyed, one more soldier was bleeding to death unconsciously from the severed arms. Titus shot at the approaching vessel. His visor showed 16:39. Three plasma charges flew to the attacking skimmer. It turned aside, but got hit in the stern. A small explosion and no visible serious damages, but it was a hit. This time xenos would not find a defenseless prey.
- Keep firing! - Titus cheered the men.
- We will fight them, soldiers! - screamed the commissar.
- If they don't stop fooling around and just blow us apart, - thought Astartes and reported to the inquisitor, - xenos have a heavy armed transport, we have loses, hold them back.
- The Emperor Protects, - Sebastian spoke for the first time since the battle began. Meanwhile humans and Astartes protected themselves with fire. The xenos flyer droned around them, dodging their plasma charges and ignoring the las-guns, Titus knew riffles couldn't do any harm to the hull, but let the men firing. It's hard to stare into your death hands down. Their las-guns had plenty of charge for this fight. Luisa was praying quietly, while the commissar screamed encourages at the limit of his lungs. What would the xenos do, they should have been understood that their slavery route had been uncovered and their small unit couldn't be the only force the planet sent after the invaders. The visor has just changed to 16:41, when Titus got blinded for a second by a white flash. When his sight recovered, he saw Aeldari diving on them.
- Incoming! - roared Titus to the blinded guardsmen, picking one of six xenos riding small flying platforms. The Aeldari were mag-locked to their boards or somehow else were attached to them for they tumbled and swung in all directions in the air, dodging few guardsmen firing back. Human size bolt-pistol barked in the Dakhak's hand, but not it nor the single plasma or multiply las shots hit the xenos rogues. Titus got his own - slender half-naked figure flew away head down still thrusted by the board. His oath was fulfilled. Three others raced by, diverting the men, while two more attacked the herded humans. Curved blades on the long shafts scythed few heads with high screams of delighted xenos, whose true attack haven't begun yet. Two explosions emerged in the truck body, one in the middle and the second closer to the cabin. It wasn't much of fire or a blast wave. These Aeldari waged war their way. The grenade in the middle was filled with acid - the commissar and three men were melted to crumbling bones. One guardsman was screaming - his hands and face unprotected by uniform became a mess. Titus stop his agony with a head-shot. Few more were burnt with the acid. Those in the front were paralyzed: up to six guardsmen were laying stiff, those faces which were visible were silently screaming of pain.
- Get out! Get out! Don't let them herd us here! - he grabbed the mace and gave others an example. The guardsmen jumped from the truck, holding their guns, Titus didn't see Luisa, but he was occupied with the enemies. - Fire at will! Shoot those xenos bastards!
- For the Emperor! - screamed guardsmen, now separated by the truck. The men opened fire. It was only 16:42. Titus could see two xenos, flying back to them in spirals on their platforms which happened to have fire weapons of its own. He trusted the armour to withstand a random hit and chose his next target. The chosen Aeldari accepted his challenge and zigzagging to him wavering his polearm. The xenos was so lean, that was he a human Titus wouldn't counted him for a fighter. The alien wore spiky pieces of dark armour in random fashion: a bracer on one hand, greaves on both bare feet, plates of armor here and there, but the pale flat stomach was open, as well as the elongated head. The bloody riffle was too slow, and the filthy face of the rogue came closer and closer. Last moments to shoot the bastard down. Titus has missed again, he saw, how the xenos swung his weapon. Face to face then, Astartes snarled inside his helmet reading the trajectory of the enemy. A fast figure emerged to his right in the air. Titus took it for the second xenos, but it was Luisa: she jumped off the truck just in time to crash into the flying rogue with the power sword in her hand. Tiny bells couldn't be heard in the cacophony of battle, but the xenos swiftly turned and knocked the woman down. This half a second was enough for Titus. He tossed away the riffle and picked up the mace. Already in the jump Astartes activated the weapon and crushed it into the flying platform, breaking it apart. The Aeldari fell to the ground. He tried to land on his feet, but the pieces of the device still held his limbs, so the xenos ended up on his stomach. Titus smashed the pointy head with the mace, leaving a wet spot on the sand next to the body. One more for him, not without the Luisa's help. He turned to the woman, who was ready to continue the fight. Titus darted for the riffle observing the battlefield. To his right the resistance of the guardsmen was suppressed. Three xenos did it fast and brutal: people were chopped down or shot. Two guardsmen were captured alive: one xenos held them on a long leash. To his left four guardsmen survived, a killed Aeldari laid dead.
- Bring them back into combat! Heavy weapons! - Titus commanded to the woman through the vox and aimed at the xenos with the leash. Too late, they have been spotted. The Astartes jumped to the truck hiding from the aliens' shots raining on him. Screaming and laughing, if those noised could be called that, the Aeldari pursued him. The body of the truck got pierced with tiny needles, Titus wasn't sure that his current armour would protect him from such treat. Luisa inspired men to the fight, but neither of them held a heavy weapon including herself - five las-guns wouldn't turn this fight on their side. Humans fired at the xenos, hitting their platforms and hurting lightly one of the riders. Aeldari had to move and couldn't finish him, so Titus climbed into the truck searching for the melta and plasma guns. He held deactivated mace between his fingers, he snatched a plasma weapon from the decoyed corpses left by the acid grenade and run for the meltagun crushing paralyzed guardsmen. 16:43. Screams and shooting around him - he was not alone yet. Titus turned to help survivors, and the floor behind him cracked and sagged. He knew what was it and jumped to the ground leaving the damaged vehicle between himself and the flying transport. Looks like xenos lost enough of their kin and decided to finish the chase. Well, they had to move they skimmer therefore he could take one more with him. Last three rogues on flying boards differed with the crew of the flyer: they were circling around Luisa trying to take her alive. They must have liked her fighting spirit. Like once they liked his. Titus fired a tiny human plasma-gun and one Aeldari disappeared in an explosion. He tossed away the used gun and ran forwards holding the activated mace in one arm and the meltagun in another. One xenos darted on him, the last one on Luisa. Aeldari was flying low and fast pointing his spear at him. It couldn't be that simple. Titus stopped and raised his meltagun, the xenos immediately swept away, but he didn't aim at him in the first place. She was close, and could be hurt, but the rogue already wounded her and was going to kill. Titus pulled the trigger: a blast of heat bit off the right hand of Luisa, burning to nothing her robe and melting armour and swallowed the Aeldari at her side. Only one flying bastard left and the transport with the heavy weapon. He might live through this day yet. Titus turned around and run back for the plasma gun, cooled down or not, it was his only chance. The xenos charged him from above - looked like he wanted to ram Astartes with his curved spiky platform. Titus pressed his right shoulder to the truck's hull - the xenos won't just soar through him now, either he crushed in him, or change the course. The mace was held in the left hand and ready to strike the alien. The enemy screamed furiously and steered his platform right at him. Titus fired meltagun from the hip. The melted platform hit him in the chest, pushed him off the legs and tossed back along the hull. Its spikes cut into the vehicle slowing down the device and eventually crushing it to the ground. Titus was on his back, the right hand was empty, but the left held the mace. The xenos was in the air - the ugly beast jumped off the platform and now were going to pierce him with his spear. He rolled to the left, dodging the lethal strike and stood up. The Aeldari's knee hit him in the visor; the spike on poleyn pierced the helm and cut his cheek. Fortunately, the blade wasn't poisoned. Titus tried to grab the leg, but it wasn't there already, a shaft knocked him back on the ground, he knew, what comes next and moved back. The blade of the xenos still got him cutting ceramite open but not flesh deep. The Aeldari shook with irritation or entertainment. Blows were raining on him not letting to stand up. Titus parried with the tiny mace till it was cut in halves by the broad spear's tip. He tossed the useless handle in the xenos and tried to stood up one more time and the pain stopped him - the spear pierced his right hip pushing his back on his butt. The pain was nothing. Astartes grabbed the shaft and moved the other hand for the knife. But the Xenos has already got what he deserved.
- I am His sword of flaming wrath! - wheezed Luisa pulling the power weapon out of the dead alien. Her face was baked on the one side, she trembled. Titus pulled out the filthy weapon out his body, leaped to the woman, grabbed her only hand and pulled. The dark ray hit the ground where they stood - the transport took the position. Now when no Xenos were down here, the heavy weapon will make them run. The glitchy visor showed 16:44. Titus tossed the weaken Luisa to the truck's track and run for the plasma gun. Would he be able to dodge the shooter for couple minutes? Not likely. He saw an approaching dot on the horizon. It came from the wrong side - enemies' reinforcement then. Titus got the plasma gun and jumped into the truck. The leg stopped bleeding, no xenos toxins were messing with his body. He jumped out on the other side, leaving the hull to take the hit of the alien's gun. Titus ran though the butchered guardsmen, close to one of the choked humans a meltagun laid. Now he was armed. Another man on the leash disappeared in a fountain of dirt and gore. Titus ran around the truck noticing a still servo-skull observing him. The approaching enemy got closer.
- Luisa, guardsmen and landed xenos are down, the enemy transport using heavy weapon from the distance, - reported he, - some kind of xenos jet-bike is approaching. Will try to chase it away, so keep an eye on it, inquisitor.
- Yes, Titus, - Sebastian immediately answered calmly.
He couldn't run away from the truck, his only cover in this desert. So, kept running around it, changing directions, jumping in and out the hull, already shredded by the xenos gun. Titus shot back once, but the transport was too far away and easily dodged the plasma cloud. And he saved it for the jet-bike. It was a slender xenos looking skimmer with short wings and plenty of spikes. The cockpit was open - a pale blue hair freak was running it. Another one standing on the hull shaking a polearm. If those two were as stupid as others - they would come to him on their own. Mounted on the bike weapons opened fire. Being shot from both sides, Titus ducked under the hull. The thing he had been postponing all this time. Not because it might look like hiding. He didn't know the bottom of the vehicle, would his power back come through? And the xenos would know where he was, so they just cut the machine to pieces, burying him under the wrecks if not hitting by chance. In the tight darkness under the hull 16:45 glowed brightly before his eyes. An energy ray pierced the metal close to him. Titus crawled to the hit place. His helmet and the armour on the breast were compromised and shoulders were not well protected at the first place. But it had to withstand. He pushed the trigger of the melta gun, and the blinding stream of heat washed away the layers of metal above him, slashing him with overheat splashes. Titus torn through hot wrecks and emerged inside the hull. He had a couple seconds in the best scenario and he had spent them well. The xenos standing on the jet-bike vanished in fire. The driver steered the skimmer away, but Titus was there already. Alas, he couldn't hold to it and fell off, landing weaponless on his back. It has been a good fight, worthy of the name of Titus Livius. The xenos would shoot him right now. But Astartes don't wait for death. He jumped to his feet and ran for the weapons scattered around the corpses. The left ankle was dotted with shards, Titus didn't get if the bike's weapon pierced the ceramite or not. He picked up a standard las-gun and smiled - the transport was descending on him. Sharp bow and fins were covered with red dust, but xenos wanted to paint it with his blood. His resistance caused too much and pissed them off. He run from the approaching transport. The biker gave way to the bigger predator. The racing vessel was getting closer, Titus left the truck behind and turned to face the enemy. Elegant skimmer flew close the ground, fins and short wings on its left side were cutting the human transport as it wasn't material. The truck wasn't a tank, that's true, but neither was Titus. He had a slight chance to hold back the xenos for the left minute, then the guard would track them down and destroy.
- Inquisitor, if the transport and the jet-bike they stayed here, follow them. Purge the xenos scum!
- Hold on, Titus, - ordered the psyker coldly.
- Those things would slice me clean, - calmly thought Astartes. Then he had no more thoughts. The next moment the Aeldari vessel raced over him and turned around for the second run. Titus trusted his body to dodge and tumble, escaping death this time. And the next one. The power rate of his suite gone much lower than it supposed to, making it real for him to maneuver the way he did. He pressed to the ground saving his life for the third time. Probably for the last.
- Take cover, - said the vox.
- Open fire! - he screamed back needlessly. No one was waiting for him. New sound filled the air and explosions surrounded him. The xenos shot last time almost hit him and took off gaining altitude. The biker had already fled. Another blast wave pushed him on the ground, the shards drummed on his backpack. - The xenos withdrew, repeat, the xenos are gone, - Titus reported and the bombardment ceased. He ran to the totally deformed truck.
- Titus, report, - said Sebastian.
- Eager to proceed, inquisitor, - answered Titus, picking up the unconscious Luisa. The woman was laying at some distance from the wreck, tossed away by explosions; a big shard was stuck in her leg. - Luisa is in critical state.
- We are picking you up in a minute, - answered calm voice. Timer turned to 16:47.

The sky roared and five flyers hovered above them. Three were standard army crafts he's seen in many worlds. Others were different, they must belong to the inquisitor. One of it landed and opened an armored hatch.
- Come aboard! - the rune J confirmed his guess, and Titus carried the woman inside. The flyer consisted from one compartment fill with dozen guardsmen in heavy armor. Men were fastened to the seats. - Put her here. Mentor, we are taking off.
Jacob was in the same outfit and his helmet was congruous with it: a grey ceramite with a narrow visor was covered with an enormous hat with bright feathers. Acolyte stood up and confidently stayed still, using mag-locks in his boots. Titus held for a handle. One guardsman leant over Luisa threating her wounds.
- What a fight! - Jacob turned to him and tried to slap him on a shoulder or something like that. Titus caught his hand letting go the handle. He couldn't see the man's face but it must have gone red and stiff, like most human faces do when their bearers are shown their place. Titus let go. After an angry sniffing, the acolyte continued. - The mentor said you would join us for this hunt, whoever you are, Titus. Traditions and honor demanded to introduce myself properly. My name is Jacob Obrecht, the third heir of Obrechts from Ascaniya. I will cover your back in coming battle.
- She did that, with this thing, - Titus pointed Luisa's sword at her, - that's what I call a proper introduction.
- Then we return to this conversation later, - the man went to the cockpit.
- Will she live? - Titus asked the medic, who lifted his masked face with fear.
- Can't say, my lord. I stopped the pain and bleeding for now. That's all I can do, - round lenses stared at him for a moment, - her breath is stable.
- Thank you, - Astartes moved away. The woman showed herself well. That was it.
- What can you say on the enemy, Titus? - Sebastian asked him through the vox.
- There won't be injured in this fight, inquisitor. They use all kind of toxins. You either dead or avoid the hit. Me and Luisa are survived by their mistakes. Do all guardsmen are similarly prepared?
- Yes, we have forty-eight storm troopers for initial attack. And much more are coming to assist. The Strikers found their cover, after aerial bombardment we will search it through. Four minutes.
- Four minutes, lads! - cheerfully declared Jacob emerging in the compartment, - let's clean your land off these parasites!
- Purge xenos! We'll make them pay! For the Emperor! - shouted guardsmen confidently hitting the floor with their weapons' butts. Acolyte opened a heavy casket attached to the wall and knelt before it. On the back side of the lid were an image of Aquilla. Jacob produced two bolt-pistols of intricate and expensive build: they were covered with curved and gilded wood panels. He put it to his forehead and mag-locked to his stomach, then he produced several magazines and placed them across his chest.
- The Emperor that protects loyal to Him, save my senses clear for the battle with Your enemies, - Jacob started to read his prayer aloud and pull off his hat and put it into the casket. The guardians repeated after him.
- Keep my hands steady that I could kill those who oppose Your will, - he put off the gloves and tossed them into the casket. Rings rolled and jingled inside.
- I entrust my soul to You, for You are the only light which protects us from the eternal darkness, - Jacob tossed his chain in the box and closed the lid. Acolyte stood up, opened a panel on the wall and produced a long power sword, big enough for Astartes. Jacob addressed soldiers, leaning on his weapon.
- Fight well, lads! The Emperor is watching and protects those who are fearless, - he eyed quiet guardsmen, - I will cover your backs!
- I will cover yours! - answered men.
- A flask of best amasec in the system for those who survived, if you need more motivation, devils! - soldiers cheered, - Show me, how the famous Red Champions fight!
- 24th! For the Emperor! - roared guardsmen.
- Squad J is ready, mentor, - reported Jacob through the vox turning his helmet to Titus. The aircraft grounded with a thud of hasty landing.

The red crust of the surface was torn open by bombardment. Earlier the Aeldari might use some hidden path, now it was an enormous pit of collapsed earth and sand, which revealed dim underground caves and tunnels of the nature origin. They were big enough for the Xenos transport to move through. All squads disembarked on the rim of the slope. Four units by dozen men clad in carapace armour. Powerful las-guns and heavy weapons, Titus would like see those soldiers instead of the poor ones sent for butchery. But they need to bait out Aeldari and track them down here. Purging the nest is more important than several lives. And this fight would be as deadly as previous. Each Valkyrie disembarked its unit and took off immediately. Sebastian left his transport in the company of Tapio. The hunchback ran to the flyer with wounded Luisa.
- All squads open your vox-links! - commanded the inquisitor, and voices emerged in Titus's helmet.
- Squad Z is ready, A is here, F is battle ready, - reported sergeants and Jacob added, - J is ready, master.
- We are going in, expect ambushes. Valkyries will lead us. Fire at will, everything we met is His enemy. J is leading. For the Emperor! - while storm troopers were shouting back and Valkyries with engine roar dived into the labyrinth, he mentally informed him, - Titus, stick with Jacob.
Air-crafts disappeared underground. Men steadily went down the slope knee-deep in sand and dry dirt. Few stumbled and rolled down anyway, but managed not to shot somebody with plasma accidently. They stood on the steady ground facing several ways in the dark dungeon, three were big enough to let the xenos transport in.
- Look at these creatures, - Sebastian's mace pointed at the pile of stones and sand next to the central enter. Titus saw a limb in spiky armour. Astartes came closer and pulled out the corpse of Aeldari for the humans to look. Murmuring filled the channel. - There is nothing to be afraid. Fragile filthy scum out of space! - Titus activated the sword and sliced the Aeldari apart for demonstration. Fortunately, this rogue neglected the defense of his torso too and got cut easily. The inquisitor's mace showed the way, - J into the right passage!
They came in. He and the acolyte went first. Stormtroopers turned on the lights set into the helmets, illuminating the vast tunnel. "Illuminate them!", - Titus remembered the old battle cry, indeed it was the legendary time. He heard a quiet explosion.
- Faster! - Sebastian commanded, - next turn take left, then ignore the small ways.
The inquisitor said to ignore, but he was ready for an attack from any side anytime. All guardsmen from his squad run in a line across the tunnel with him and Jacob a couple steps ahead. The acolyte looked confident and experienced. His long sword was mag-locked to his backpack and both pistols were in hands. The tunnel they were running through got wider or tighter, but the celling was always way above his head. The noise of a heavy auto weapon ended in explosion - the second craft found the hiding enemy.
- Take left, - the inquisitor's voice was calm. No one dared to show their fears in his presence. Soon the humans passed the hit transport in the grim silence. The cabin was wrecked with the direct hit. The lighted with the burning machine piece of tunnel ended and they returned in the darkness. Sebastian lead them on, they've been underground for eleven minutes. Lamps' rays highlighted a big natural column, spitting the path. Flame dancing ahead.
- On the left! - screamed Titus. The foot of the column got pierced with rays of lights revealing two figures disappeared in the rain of las-fire and plasma charges. Xenos shot down two troopers first though. They were laying twitching in agony.
- Give them the Emperor's mercy, Titus, - ordered Sebastian, and his sword chopped off their heads. Their riffles were useless for him without power backpacks, so he took one las-pistol to have anything to shoot from. Z squad was ordered to guard the rear, J to check the path. They found only one dead xenos, Titus didn't touch the filthy weapon. All went on, later the path got smaller, the slim xenos transport would skim easily, but it must have taken the best pilot to fly the human aircraft here. But not the dangerous path stopped the Valkyrie, lying aflame across a big archway, its cabin was torn open by a direct hit from some heavy weapon too. Though the pilot took his toll this time - a shredded xenos lying next to another pass. They were at the crossroad and Sebastian didn't give an order - now they had to find the way themselves.
- Squad J, check the right pass, - came an order, - A, look behind the transport.
They left the burning craft behind and turned to the darkness. If Titus defended the dungeon, he would strike now - when their whole squad is lighted from behind.
- Lousy spot, be ready, lads! - Jacob broke the silence of the channel. They moved deeper in the tunnel; lights spotted nothing but rocks. Aeldari finally stroke, but not at them.
- Movement from the rear! Open Fire! - alerted squad Z. The tunnel behind filled with frantic screams and shooting. The vox-channel turned into chaos: humans yelled, it wasn't clear who has been attacked and by whom.
- Jacob, Titus, to me! - Sebastian outvoiced others.
- Yes, inquisitor! - Jacob answered for both of them. Squad J turned and run back to the light of burning Valkyrie. Black ray pierced one stormtrooper, cutting him in half.
- Keep running! - Titus screamed to humans directly, not relying on the jammed vox. The invisible weapon scythed down one more soldier. - We will not catch the bustards from here! You two will guard the path, let them come to us!
- Do as he said! - The acolyte endorsed him. But he had to choose another guardian, since one of two had been hit.
They left two troopers with plasma guns and joined the battle. The inquisitor stood surrounded with a whole squad firing in the tunnel they came from. Their lamps illuminated the horrible death of the rest of squad Z and those who caused it. Grotesque figures leapt like animals, heavy and crude augmentations covered parts of their bent bodies, but human origin was out of questions.
- Fire them down, these beasts are lethal in close combat! - shouted Titus adding his tiny pistol to the shooting.
- Squad A, respond! - the vox-channel got quieter and Sebastian tried to reconnect with them. No response came.
- Don't shoot me in the back! - barked Titus and darted forward, dropping his pistol. Against those living constructs he'll need both hands. He saw that those playthings of the xenos finished the rearguard and would hit them now. Creatures were coming evading the lamps' light. He cut off the head of the first thing came to the sword length, hoping that it was enough, cause the second was already there stretching its three hands with too long nails to be natural. Titus chopped off the one, smashed away with his left the other, but the third grabbed him for the gorget, claws scratched the ceramite. Since the creature used to be a human, its head was around Astartes' breast, but it hanged to him and the tiny legs tried to wrap around his. Another enemy emerged from the darkness in the image of the muscular man with skinless face. Titus slashed him across the chest, hitting the heart and dropped on the ground crushing the clingy beast. The tortured human got squashed. He jumped to his feet. Las and plasma charges flew around, but not dangerously close to him. But it meant that he was alone against the beasts. Titus pierced one in the air when it leapt on him, but another crushed into his breast with metal plate covering the head breaking its neck but also pushed him off the balance. The third came in time and knocked him down, overgrown hands with fists melted in fingerless hummers made of bone banged on his visor. Titus let go the sword and caught the monster's hands with his own and tore them off, but the beast pumped up with drugs didn't understand a thing. Monster's head lowered on his helmet once, the next time the ceramite clad fist stopped it, tearing the mindless skull apart. That was the last. Titus picked the sword and came back to the light of lamps. The whole squad has survived. Several beasts were shot, and two more laid cut down with power weapon close to their position. Jacob already put the sword back and held his pistols ready.
- What was it? - after such horrible charge, the guardsmen whispered in the vox.
- The slaves, - answered Titus.
- Those, for whom we came to fight! - declared Sebastian, - the citizens of the Imperium, caught by these xenos rogues. We will stop it now!
- Squad J? - asked Jacob.
- Nothing, lord, - answered one of those left in ambush.
- There is a heavy weapon in the right tunnel, mentor, - explained the acolyte to Sebastian.
- The rest of squad J will look after it, - swiftly answered the inquisitor, - we will go after squad A. Take as much heavy weapon as possible, soldiers. Do not mourn the dead, for they are His warriors and there is no better fate than to be by His light, as all died for Him are.
- Good luck, pals, burn those bastards, if they dare to show up! - Jacob encouraged the five men left to guard the other pass. They group crossed the smoldering Valkyrie and stepped into another tunnel. It was empty. Soon the lamps highlighted the first corpse of squad A. The light spotted the boot, then the whole body. The guardsmen cursed: the front armour was torn open and stained with blood. Twelve men laid dead in same condition. They didn't slow down to examine them, but Titus noticed, that most of them died of one strike. So, this darkness was hiding close-combat specialists. His ears caught some noise ahead.
- Inquisitor, hear something down this way.
- Everybody stop, - commanded Sebastian, - Titus go ahead.
- Yes, - he took a plasma gun out of some guardian. His power armour wasn't a discreet one, but he would stay unnoticed longer than stumping humans for sure. The tunnel ended with a great cave. The place stank with the xenos, it was their den. The same transport was grounded, couple Aeldari were loading it with some crates. He couldn't see much since the only light was dim lamps and some glowing machines of the xenos. He stepped back.
- The same transport and at least three xenos. They are packing their things.
- Stay still, - answered Sebastian.
- Squad J, response! - requested Jacob.
- Everything is quiet, my lord.
- Shoot their transport with plasma, others fire at xenos by my command, - humans were approaching him. Titus didn't look at them, he was aiming at the flyer, expecting for xenos to notice them with every step.
- Engaging the enemy! - screamed a man on the vox. It should be those five guarding the path, since Titus heard nothing behind.
- For the Emperor! - this cry he heard through the vox as well as through the helmet. The men behind were attacked. Titus fired his weapon and tossed away, not watching if he hit or not.
- Titus! - Sebastian called him for the first time in a thrilled voice.
- I'm coming! - he saw flashes of shots and heard screams of terror ahead. Did the xenos send more of their disgusting constructs? The darkness around him materialized and hit him. Only due to his reflexes he turned his left shoulder for the strike - something chopped into it cutting through carapace and flak plate and slicing his muscles. He slashed back with his sword, but the glowing blade hit the air. The invisible attacker, disappeared leaving his weapon inside his shoulder. The vox was full of dying shrieks. But Titus was on the edge of his own death to care about others. Humans were not his lost brothers for whom he would and had risked his life. Strange thing - the enemy's weapon felt lighter and then dissolved in the air too. Witchcraft or some kind of poison, playing tricks with his mind. But the wounded shoulder wasn't numb, he felt the pain. A slap in the face out of darkness made him stumble. Either the enemy thought his wouldn't withstand his strike, or the xenos was playing with him. The rage boiled in him, heating up his already hot blood. This scum will know how to underestimate the legionary of the 16th. He took the sword in his left hand and drew the combat knife. The tiny glowing of the power weapon wasn't enough to see a hiding silent foe. But his gut compensated the lack of visibility. Titus stretched the sword like a torch, and stroke with the knife in different direction. Something shrieked and he turned the blade inside. Titus swung the sword at the scream and looked at the one who wounded him. The xenos was almost cut in two parts across breast; he haв a dark slim body, which glowed a little with inner green fire; the hair was long and loose; the mouth was wide opened and filled with sharp tooth. A decent rival. Titus ran to others. Some lamps of freshly slain guardians still worked and gave some light to the fight: five soldiers were alive and fired their weapons in the darkness, the inquisitor and his acolytes stood with activated weapons. No dead xenos around them. He stopped at some distance. Let's hunt the hunter then.
- Inquisitor, - he called though the silent vox channel, since the last survived guardsmen were too horrified to scream, - stop the fire, lure them out.
- Stop the fire! Aim before shoot! - commanded Sebastian.
First attacked went unnoticed - blood just gushed out of the man.
- Silence! Be ready! - the inquisitor tried to calm down the humans. The enemies showed themselves. Two shadows emerged behind the unexpecting guardsmen. Titus stroke the nearest just before he came back into the darkness: long swing of the sword stopped the xenos and the knife finished him. He noticed how Jacob slashed the other with impressive swing of his sword, cutting both the monster and its victim.
- Is it all? - asked the acolyte.
- Don't know, but the transport ahead and they may go away.
- We don't let them! - Sebastian looked at last troopers, - you will remember this day with pride, warriors of the Emperor. Let's go!
They ran through the corridor to the cave. Those shadow xenos ended or gave up.
- I fired at the transport before coming to you, so they know we are coming, - warned Titus. He picked up the plasma gun he dropped earlier. The dim light was there, as well as the transport with damaged hull. But not so much to immobilize it. There were no signs of the xenos.
- Jacob, look after the rear. We coming in. The aid is close, but they may flee before that. Loose formation.
They carefully entered the cave, spreading around. Titus was searching for any movement, but everything was still.
- On the right! - screamed one guardsman and fired his plasma gun.
- No! - warned Titus, but too late, the other soldier fired too. He knew that there were no one, and now they have heated their weapons for nothing. The xenos would strike now. One guardsman fell down silently, Astartes haven't noticed the source of his death. But he saw a glowing behind one casket and fired there, blowing it apart with one Aeldari.
- I'm down but alive, - gasped through the pain Jacob.
- Die, filthy xenos! - the last guardsman lost it, he fired again in the darkness.
- Let him, - whispered Titus though the vox in case Sebastian would try to stop the man. Inquisitor joined the shooting; maybe he saw somebody in the glowing of the plasma or accepted the plan of the Astartes to use the trooper as a bait. The man became a flash of light when the abused weapon exploded. Two humanoids shadows were spotted by the explosion. One alien hid close to the flyer and got shot by him. The other was close to the inquisitor.
- Behind! - screamed Titus and run to the psyker. He saw him backing from the attacking Aeldari firing his pistols. The inquisitor fell down without visible reason, but his bolt-pistol kept firing warding off the xenos, who jumped around him waving his weapon, that turned out to be a whip. Titus was close when Sebastian's pistol got out of bolts, so xenos leapt on him before finishing the fallen human. There were distant bolt shots, but no time to think about it. The alien stroke with the whip, and Titus put out the sword for protection - the xenos' weapon winded around the blade and broke it to shards. The Astartes hit with the knife, but the Aeldari was faster. The fist in some kind of power knuckles hit him in the chest. Already cracked ceramite burst in chips and Titus grounded few steps away. He hadn't been hit so hard in some time: hearts missed a beat; some small internal bleeding was at place. But the palm still held the knife. It just didn't obey him. The Xenos stood over him.
- To flee from you, mon-keigh?! - hissed the scornful voice in the curved helmet, - we are blades in shadows and you are nothing!
- I'm His hand! - Sebastian swung his mace. The xenos had no other way to dodge the blow but to bend down to the fallen Astartes.
- I am the blade! - Titus put his battle knife into xenos' temple. He tossed away the corpse and stood up. - I owe you, Sebastian.
- You owe the Emperor, for I am a humble servant of His will. Take Jacob out.
- Something wrong with my leg, - the acolyte greeted them from the floor, - but I got one bastard from here - that must be the xenos who killed those five. I'll cover your back next time, Titus.
- May be.

Sebastian called the last Valkyrie and the transport took them to the ground, as soon it landed, they went out. The sun has set down. The sky was full of stars and the desert was full of lights: many army vehicles gathered around the discovered nest.
- My lord! - colonel Arbaku ran to them surrounded with his officers, - Inquisitor!
- It's over, colonel, - calmly answered the psyker.
- I know, I mean, now I know! When the connection with the last storm trooper was lost, I thought you all have perished. I'm so glad you are alive, my lord.
- Thank the Emperor!
- The Emperor be praised! - colonel look at him, - I saw glimpses of your action down there, it's so good to have an Astartes in such operation.
- I have no Astartes at my command, colonel, - the inquisitor stopped him coldly, - I will supervise the destroying off the xenos presence. You two take one of our flyers and find a medic.
- Yes, inquisitor, - Jacob answered held by Titus.
- I beg your pardon, my lord, for my hastiness, - Arbaku straighten up.
- Let's clean this area with no delay, colonel.
Titus helped the acolyte to get into the one of their flyers. Jacob thanked and said nothing more, but when they both took their helmets off, looked at him suspiciously.