Post by Andrew on Oct 13, 2005 23:00:38 GMT -6
"Charges planted and counting down, Brother-Librarian," boomed a terminator's voice over the vox. Patching through to the Icarus, Chief Librarian Tigurius looked over the body-littered streets of Rescension, sadly shaking his head. They had held, but barely. They would not be able to repel another such assault.
And nor will we fight here. Not now. We will fight on our terms, the Librarian thought. At least the sanctity of this place will not be corrupted. It's destruction will assure that fact.
The surviving Marines had held back the hordes assaulting the walls of their defenses and helped up their brothers that, while wounded, lived still. They gathered around the center of the base. The inquisitor joined them with his retinue, along with the surviving stormtroopers, who gawked at the legendary giants, despite their elite training.
"Chief Librarian Tigurius to Icarus. Initiate immediate mass teleport extraction. Mark three. The Emperor protects."
In a haze of blue lightning, the Imperials vanished. Seconds later, specially set melta-charges detonated on the shrine of St. Travion, forever sending its mysteries to super-heated oblivion.
* * * * *
Settled in the wreck of a battle tank not fifty meters distant, six Tau stealthsuits watched as the Imperials teleported and the relic died with their passing. Shas'o Tash'var Or'es Kauyon approached the Shas'ui and asked him of the situation.
"We have been successful in capturing this gue'la armored battle tank. Its secrets will be unlocked to us when we return to Tash'var and the techs there. Also, the humans seem to possess some sort of teleporting technology. I and my squad witnessed this occurence," he replied.
Kauyon mused thoughtfully. If we could obtain this technology, then the uses in the name of the Greater Good could be extensive! I must return to Tash'var at once with these findings.
"We will leave this planet for the dogs that fight over it like meat. The gue'la have something that can project terrifying thoughts into our warriors' minds and we have nothing to counter such powerful forces. We've taken too many losses to wrest control from the other forces here, and we've gained new technology to study, such as this tank. We are leaving."
* * * * *
Farseer Cybra watched as the Tau turned from the field. Curious species, he thought. They had almost fired upon each other, not know the other was in the region. They will be more mindful in the future, he thought. He was still in pain from the recent wound caused by the cumbersome metal walker.
The warlock next to him shed tears freely. Her brother's spirit stone had been set into the ancient construct, and now it lay shattered on the ground. She gathered up the pieces and gently put them in a pouch on her belt.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Cybra said,
"Weep your tears, for they have been paid for with the blood of our kin. You will have your revenge for his death sometime, but it is not this day. You must be strong, so that when you come across those green and blue armored warriors you can defeat them."
The young warlock nodded and stood, wiping the tears away.
Suddenly the warp spiders materialized next to Farseer Cybra. In their strangely flowing voices, they reported to him.
"The humans have destroyed the relic themselves, thinking to make it safe from corruption. Nothing remains."
"In their ignorance they do the craftworld of Alaitoc a favor then. They will not be treated any different. But we know we don't need to stay here any longer," Cybra said.
"There are also some scattered units of our Dark Kin and even those of the Enemy on the other side of this complex. They are coming this way," said the Exarch, flexing his hands.
"Then they must be destroyed before we can leave. At least the craftworld is safe. We've done what we've come to make sure of that at least. Lead us to battle, Exarch"
And nor will we fight here. Not now. We will fight on our terms, the Librarian thought. At least the sanctity of this place will not be corrupted. It's destruction will assure that fact.
The surviving Marines had held back the hordes assaulting the walls of their defenses and helped up their brothers that, while wounded, lived still. They gathered around the center of the base. The inquisitor joined them with his retinue, along with the surviving stormtroopers, who gawked at the legendary giants, despite their elite training.
"Chief Librarian Tigurius to Icarus. Initiate immediate mass teleport extraction. Mark three. The Emperor protects."
In a haze of blue lightning, the Imperials vanished. Seconds later, specially set melta-charges detonated on the shrine of St. Travion, forever sending its mysteries to super-heated oblivion.
* * * * *
Settled in the wreck of a battle tank not fifty meters distant, six Tau stealthsuits watched as the Imperials teleported and the relic died with their passing. Shas'o Tash'var Or'es Kauyon approached the Shas'ui and asked him of the situation.
"We have been successful in capturing this gue'la armored battle tank. Its secrets will be unlocked to us when we return to Tash'var and the techs there. Also, the humans seem to possess some sort of teleporting technology. I and my squad witnessed this occurence," he replied.
Kauyon mused thoughtfully. If we could obtain this technology, then the uses in the name of the Greater Good could be extensive! I must return to Tash'var at once with these findings.
"We will leave this planet for the dogs that fight over it like meat. The gue'la have something that can project terrifying thoughts into our warriors' minds and we have nothing to counter such powerful forces. We've taken too many losses to wrest control from the other forces here, and we've gained new technology to study, such as this tank. We are leaving."
* * * * *
Farseer Cybra watched as the Tau turned from the field. Curious species, he thought. They had almost fired upon each other, not know the other was in the region. They will be more mindful in the future, he thought. He was still in pain from the recent wound caused by the cumbersome metal walker.
The warlock next to him shed tears freely. Her brother's spirit stone had been set into the ancient construct, and now it lay shattered on the ground. She gathered up the pieces and gently put them in a pouch on her belt.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Cybra said,
"Weep your tears, for they have been paid for with the blood of our kin. You will have your revenge for his death sometime, but it is not this day. You must be strong, so that when you come across those green and blue armored warriors you can defeat them."
The young warlock nodded and stood, wiping the tears away.
Suddenly the warp spiders materialized next to Farseer Cybra. In their strangely flowing voices, they reported to him.
"The humans have destroyed the relic themselves, thinking to make it safe from corruption. Nothing remains."
"In their ignorance they do the craftworld of Alaitoc a favor then. They will not be treated any different. But we know we don't need to stay here any longer," Cybra said.
"There are also some scattered units of our Dark Kin and even those of the Enemy on the other side of this complex. They are coming this way," said the Exarch, flexing his hands.
"Then they must be destroyed before we can leave. At least the craftworld is safe. We've done what we've come to make sure of that at least. Lead us to battle, Exarch"
