1
Her ship was moving rapidly through the warp, toward her station for the past several years, the Kineprion Sector.� Teraxci looked over the hold of her ship and saw an army of Warriors and Wyches ready to do their work.� Thinking of the coming carnage, Teraxci smiled.� She longed to draw the blood of her enemies for both the pleasure and fear of retribution from her Kabal if she were to fail.
Her ship dropped out of the warp and into the Aztaca system.� Immediately, her comm. system activated with an incoming message.
�Is everything in place?�
The video showed a dark room, where bodies were only lightly silhouetted by the dim light in the background.� Screams of tortured souls echoed in the background, creating a haunting background to go with the black on black image before her.
�Yes, Master Kazahrn.� We have just arrived in the Kineprion Sector, and our troops are ready for a glorious battle.�
�Good.� said Kazahrn.� �You will be handling this one personally?�
�I will, to ensure the operation�s success.� Teraxci assured.� �I have several more Archons bringing their factions here to assist me.� We will retain this system for the Kabal, and the sustenance of Lord Zikarion.�
�Who is your first target?� Kazahrn asked.� His voice sounded as if he were excited at the prospect of the coming wars.� He was always looking for more victims to perfect his Haemonculus torture techniques.
�The Marines have conquered numerous solar systems at the opposite end of the sector, and are consolidating their power base.� They�ve sent a group of their Imperial Guard ahead to scout out nearby systems.� We plan on eliminating them on Malicon Prime.� They made planetfall a day ago.�
�Superb.� I look forward to our next conversation.� Kazahrn said, and the link was severed.
Teraxci breathed a sigh of relief.� Master Kazahrn was a frightful individual.� He had provided a couple of his apprentice Haemonculi to assist in the fighting, and they were scary enough.� But the Master was on another level.� At least he approved of her plan.
�Alright, troops, prepare to go to war.� We�re en route to Malicon Prime.�
A cheer rose from the deck, as everyone started sharpening their blades, and dipping them in acids and poisons.� It was going to be a glorious day.
2
Malicon was a useless ball of rock.� At least, that�s what Commissar Reynolds believed.� They had been on this planet for a day now to see if there was anything of use to the Mighty Emperor on this rock, and so far they had come up short.
The planet was cold and barren.� There was barely any moisture on this planet, and the atmosphere was only barely breathable.� Some of his men had to wear respirators to even breathe on this place.� They had landed near an old research station the Emperor had set up when he was last here.� There was no one left alive in the station, and it appeared as though they had been dead for some time.� Their organs had been cleaved out of them and splattered across the walls and hung from control panels.� Some had been cut open, pinned to the wall and had been dissected while still alive.� Many of the people that had been stationed here had no idea who the Dark Eldar were, but they had been massacred and slain in the worst possible ways.� It had taken his men the first three hours of their stay to remove the rotting corpses and clean the building.� It took another hour to return it to operational status.� Now he stood in the heated building looking over the barren, dusty landscape of Malicon Prime.
�Commissar, our tech-wizards have finished going over the info in the station�s database.�
Reynolds turned to see Kenneth Johnson, the head of his Command Platoon.
�And?�
�They�d found nothing valuable on this planet.� They had done extensive geological surveys on this planet and found little of interest.� They had requested to be pulled out, but by then the warp had blocked our Mighty Emperor from guiding our ships here, and our ships never arrived.� Four years after they sent the transmission, food had been running low, morale was at a new low, and then the Dark Eldar showed up.� They didn�t have a prayer against them.�
Reynolds shook his head.� �Damned heretic aliens.� he looked at the control panel in front of him and paused.� �The materials here are 100 years out of date, but they could still be useful.� Charter a salvage team to come here and tear the station down and use it for parts.�
�Yes sir.� Johnson replied.� �Does that mean we�ll be leaving?�
�We�ll spend one more evening here, and then we�ll move on to the next system.�
Johnson nodded, saluted and left to pass the info on to the troops.� Reynolds picked up his manifest of units and soldiers and set up a sentry detail for the night.� The sun would be setting soon, and this place wasn�t equipped to take punishment, so if anything was going to happen, they needed early notice.
3
As Commissar Reynolds was learning of the fate of the original station occupants, the Kabal of the Bloody Dagger once again landed on Malicon Prime�s surface.� The compound was just barely visible from their current location.
�Form units!� Teraxci ordered �We attack the humans after dark.�
The air was tense with excitement over the coming carnage.� The air was thin, but it still carried the faint smell of blood from the armor of the warriors, who had bathed in the Fountain of Zikarion in the Kabal�s ancient tradition, before embarking.
Teraxci loaded her splinter pistol and picked up her poisoned axe to prepare for the battle.� Her pulse quickened at the thought of the blood she would spill on this day.
Suddenly, a Mandrake materialized before her, with weapons poised to strike.� Two of her Incubi moved with great efficiency to obstruct the cloaked creature.� The Mandrake growled angrily at the Incubi that held him back.� Teraxci lowered her axe and aimed the sharp blade at the creature�s forehead.
�Be careful, Mandrake.� If you want to see the battle, you must wait for our opportunity.� And you must avoid angering me, as I will gladly draw your blood if you attempt that again.�
The Mandrake stared at her with anger, and said nothing.
�You may release it.� She said to her Incubi.
The moment the Incubi released the Mandrake it cloaked itself again.
Teraxci smiled at the thought of the Mandrake�s bloodlust.� �Soon we will all revel in the business of death and torment.�
With her retinue staying close, she approached her army to issue orders, as the sun set on Malicon.
4
Private Jefferies was not a happy man.� He had been selected for sentry duty during their last night on this shitty ball of mud.� The rest of his company was probably playing poker and having dinner, while he was out here freezing his ass off and breathing through a filter.
�Ooooh, this is SO much fun�� he muttered.
�Jefferies, cut the chatter.� Came back a sharp reply over the comm..
With a defiant click, he shut off his radio.� �Bastards are probably having a good laugh at my expense.� He said to himself.� �There�s nothing out here to see except sand, stars and the building.� It�s so friggin boring out here.� I wish I had something to kill some time with.�
Jefferies was suddenly aware of a very strong odour around him.� He tried to place it, and after a few seconds, he placed it.� It smelled like death.
�What the he�� he began, but was silenced as a knife plunged into his throat, seemingly out of thin air.� A second blade pierced into his back and punctured his lungs.� The blade in his back was burning so bad!� It felt like acid was eating at his insides.� He tried to scream, but the air rushed out his back and the hole in his throat, causing only a quiet gurgling sound.� His eyes, wide with pain and fear, looked around to see the grinning face of a Dark Eldar Mandrake.� It leaned in close to him, the smell of decay radiating from it�s grisly visage, and said something to him in the Eldar�s archaic dialect and them forcefully ripped both of his blades from Jefferies body, with a sickening tearing sound.� Jefferies looked down and saw his skin boiling away as the acid on the Mandrake�s blades dissolved his skin.� His vision blurred and he dropped to the rocky surface of the cold planet as the poisonous acids wreaked their damage on his body.
5
�Excuse me, sir.� Johnson�s voice came from the doorway.
Commissar Reynolds turned his eyes away from his entertainment unit to look at his second-in-command.� �Yes?�
�We may have an issue.� One of our sentries is not reporting in.�
�Is his radio on?� Reynolds asked.� It was obvious suggestion, but in his many years of servicing the Imperium, he had seen it all.
�It has been, as he had been reporting in as ordered.� But he missed his last two radio checks.� None of the other sentries have seen him.�
Reynolds was beginning to share Johnson�s concern.� He stood from his chair, and turned off his entertainment.� He walked to the window that overlooked the grounds in front of the center.� His men were scattered around the front of the compound.� Most were huddled around campfires, or heaters while eating their rations, or playing cards.
�Just to be safe, deploy a few Sentinels.� Send them to his last known position, and see if they can�t track him down.� The kid likely fell asleep at his post.�
�Shouldn�t we just send a few men out?� Johnson asked.
�The Sentinels can search the area faster, and we�ll be disturbing less of the troop�s evening.�
�Yes, sir.�� Johnson said while saluting.
�Oh, and Captain��
�Commissar?�
�Tell the troops to keep their guns handy.� Just in case��
Johnson nodded and took his leave.� Reynolds stared out into the darkness around the compound.� He had a funny feeling about something.
After staring out into the void for a few minutes, he heard the Sentinels powering up, and soon the walkers were making their way out onto the field.� Reynolds grabbed his sword and scabbard as well as his pistol, which he quickly holstered.� He left the office to join his men outside.� He had a very bad feeling.
6
The Kabal of the Bloody Dagger had encroached closer to the compound than the Commissar might have believed.� The Mandrakes had just �handled� another sentry, when they saw the tall mechanical walkers making their way onto the field.
Teraxci smiled as she watched her troops prepare for their arrival.� It was nearly time.
Reaching back behind her, she began powering up the Webway Portal she carried.� She would need it soon enough.
They quietly watched the Sentinels spread out, looking for their missing men.� Two of them drew closer to where they had bunkered down.
�We need souls to strengthen the Kabal, so send some unfortunate humans back to the realm of Commorragh.� Leave none untouched.� She ordered.
Her Warriors were ready; the Mandrakes were nowhere to be seen, likely already charging in.� Negatzeila�s Wyches were almost bouncing with anticipation of the coming massacre.
The searchlights of the Sentinels were nearly on their position when Teraxci ordered �Now!�
Dark Lances fired from her Warriors� position.� The stream of dark matter struck the walkers and the cabs of the human vehicles caved in on themselves.� As the walkers toppled, Teraxci raised her axe into the air and with a deafening cry, yelled �Charge!�
7
Reynolds was outside with his men when he heard explosions and saw a couple of Sentinels implode and collapse to the ground.
�Men, take up defensive positions!�
Rations were dropped, poker games forgotten and panic settled in.� Johnson and the rest of the Command Squad emerged from the building and moved to the Commissar�s side.
�What are your orders, sir?� Johnson asked.
�Get the support team to their tank.� We�ll need their assistance.� We�ll need the Hellhound and the Stormtroopers.� Then come and assist here.�
�Yes, sir.�
The Command Squad went to complete their orders.� His Platoons were finally getting into a decent defensive position when the Magnesium flares were fired above the base.
�Emperor, lend me your strength.� Reynolds gasped as he gazed on the moving field of Dark Eldar rapidly closing on their position.
�Fire at will!� he ordered.
Gunfire filled the night as the Infantry opened up on the approaching Dark Eldar hordes.� Several Warriors fell to the bullets of the Guard�s guns.� The men behind them never slowed, simply bounding over their fallen comrades.
Pulses were fired from the charging raiders and the rounds from the splinter weapons clipped several men.� They fell to the ground screaming in pain, as the splinters lodged in their body delivering a painful toxin deep within them.
Commissar Reynolds had fought in a few battles against the Dark Eldar, but he knew he would never get used to it.� The combination of gunfire, the screams of pain of his men as they died and the war cries of the Wyches was enough to drive a man insane.� Unfortunately, these were conditions the evil Dark Eldar lived for.� If he didn�t keep a level head, all would be lost.� No amount of faith in the Emperor would save him.
8
Teraxci was watching her troops progress from the rear.� Seeing her troops nearing the Imperial front line, she smiled.
�Time is up.�
She lowered the Webway Portal to the ground and activated its systems.
�Let�s go.� She said to her retinue.
They charged in after their men to share in the bloody glory of the battle, as the portal opened in their wake.
9
Reynolds knew it was too good to be true.� His men had been continuously firing into the Dark Eldar�s ranks and it appeared they were wearing them down.� The Leman Russ tank had finally rolled into the area and was firing volleys into the enemy ranks.� It looked as though they would rout the Dark Eldar.
Then the portal opened.
More Warriors poured onto the field.� Raiders zipped out of the portal, heading for the flanks of their army�s positions.� Jetbikes emerged in a blur of motion, soon followed by a Ravager.� Finally, a Talos and a group of Haemonculi stepped onto the field.
His men started to look demoralized.
�Stand fast men!� Platoons 1 and 4 protect the flanks!� Keep firing!� he issued orders to the men to try to keep them focused on the task at hand.
They obeyed.� They repositioned, firing the entire way.� The Raiders off-loaded their squads, one of them taking a critical blow during the off-loading, destroying the vehicle and half the squad.� Reynolds continually snapped off rounds from his pistol at any enemies nearing the front lines.� He knew if the Dark Eldar reached the front lines, his men would not fare so well.
Suddenly, a large group of the central platoons vanished as the Ravager�s disintegrator cannons opened fire and annihilated the platoon.
�Where the hell�s that tank?� he screamed into the comm. system.
He heard screams of his men over the radios.� His platoons were getting mauled.� Voices were being silenced suddenly.� The Dark Eldar had reached their front line.� He could see warriors fighting his brave men, and carrying the less fortunate ones back toward the portal.
He looked to his tank just in time to see a beam fire from behind the tank.� A squad of Scourge had swooped in behind his unit�s tank and had bored a hole through it.� It was left in a smoking ruin.� There was no sign of the Hellhound.� He assumed it was also destroyed.
�Commissar, we�re being over run!� Johnson�s voice came over the comm.� He detected panic in his friend�s voice.
�All units fall back!� Inside the compound!�
The platoons didn�t hesitate.� They ran toward the building, occasionally stopping to pop off a few shots at the Dark Eldar.
An explosion went off near the Commissar, and he watched in horror as a Shredder round detonated amongst three men.� The monomolecular wire shot out for the projectile and hacked the men into small pieces in mid-stride.� As they ran toward the building, the squad of Scourge landed amongst the group and began firing their splinter rifles at the fleeing men.� Drawing his sword, Reynolds ran at the Scourge cutting down as many as he could en route.
�Sir!� a soldier exclaimed as he fired a shot past the Commissar at a Scourge leveling a splinter rifle at the commander�s head.� The Dark Eldar�s head exploded off its shoulders and fell lifelessly to the ground.
�You OK sir?� he asked.
Before Reynolds could reply, a Reaver Jetbike zipped by and took the brave man�s head clean off with a swipe of a blade.� The Commissar resumed his charge toward the building.
10
Teraxci watched closely as the human commander fled inside the building with a small number of men.� Her warriors and wyches were caught up in the glorious blood bath on going around the building.
�Come with me.� She said to her retinue.� She marched quickly and with purpose, toward the old outpost with her Incubi in tandem.
11
Reynolds was trying hard to keep composed.� It was getting harder to do, knowing that the Dark Eldar were inside the building.� He could tell by the screams of his men echoing through the halls and the deafening staccato of gunfire.
�Johnson, where are you and your men?� he asked into his comm. unit.
�We�re by the command center, sir.� Came the tired reply.
The Commissar quickly hurried himself along to rendezvous with the Command Platoon.� He heard a scream behind him, and turned to see an infantryman being repeatedly stabbed by a horrid Mandrake.� Leveling his pistol at the creature, he fired several times, adding several holes to the chest of the foul creation.
Rounding corners in a run, Reynolds was attempting to regroup as quickly as possible.
�All units still receiving, try to rendezvous at the command center in the compound.�
As he neared the command center, he realized how bad things were.
�Johnson, what happened?� Reynolds inquired, as he realized the Command Platoon was a few men short.
�We had a bit of a run in with Jetbikes before we got inside.� We lost Jensen and Hutch.�
�Has anyone else made it?�
�I�m afraid not sir.� Johnson said with a look of defeat.
The Commissar lowered his head.� His company was a total loss.� He had failed the Emperor after so many years of dedicated service to His Holiness.
�I�ll send a distress call.� Do your best to hold them off until I send the message.�
Johnson solemnly nodded.� �It has been my greatest honor to serve the Emperor with you, Steve.�
Steven Reynolds turned and offered a weak smile to his friend.� �Best of luck, Ken.�
The Commissar turned away and stepped into the command room without another word.
12
Message from Malicon Prime:
Sender: Commissar S. Reynolds
Planet Malicon Prime is useless.� Was going to requisition a salvage team to this planet to disassemble existing compound.� Have met heavy resistance by Dark Eldar.� Company lost, nearly 100% casualties.� Dark Eldar presence greater than originally thought.� Too late to request assistance.� May the Emperor bless your conquest.
13
Reynolds hit the transmit button to send the message toward the planet that would serve as the Marines base of operation for the early stages of the operation.
�Let�s hope the Dark Eldar pay dearly for what they have done here today.� He said aloud to nobody.
He realized suddenly that things in the building were abnormally quiet.
�Johnson, how are things going?�
His only reply was static.
�Ken, please reply.�
He heard the door to the command center open.� He turned to see a group of Dark Eldar Incubi step into the room.� One of them carried Johnson�s severed head.
In a fit of rage, Reynolds opened fire with his pistol at the Incubus holding Ken�s head until his clip was empty.� His bullets harmlessly bounced off the Incubus� power armor.
As his clip clicked, announcing he was out of ammo, an Archon strolled into the room.� Her grin was malicious and cold.� Blood streaked her face and hair as she neared Reynolds.
�Such a nasty temper�� she said through a translation program.� �We have use for that.�
Drawing his sword, Reynolds yelled �For the Emperor!�
He rushed in to face the Archon.� She raised her large axe and easily parried the attacks of the enraged Commissar.� He had lost his focus, and was letting emotion dictate his actions.� As he tired, she knocked his sword aside and stabbed him in the chest with the base of her axe handle.� The subtle point at the end of the axe stabbed into his chest, delivering a toxin into the Commissar�s body.� His eyes went wide with pain for a split second before blacking out.
�Take him to the portal.� Master Kazahrn may be interested in him.�
14
�Where am I?�
The room was dark and smelled horrible.� He could hear screams of agony all around him.� He felt slick with some bitter fluid.� The room was also oppressively hot.
�What is this place?� he wondered aloud.
�You probably don�t want to know.� Said a voice from somewhere nearby.� It sounded as if a computer was processing it.
His memory was foggy, and couldn�t remember what he had been doing to end up here.
�Please, tell me.� He begged.
�You are on Commorragh.� Does that ease your mind any?� the voice said with a slight chuckle.
Commorragh?!?� My Emperor, why have you forsaken me?
It came back to him�the battle on Malicon Prime�the hordes of Dark Eldar slaughtering his men, including his long time friend Ken.� As his eyes adjusted to the low light of the room, he was more aware of his surroundings.
The bitter fluid he was covered in was blood.� Not his own, but several infantrymen from his platoon were being slowly bled out, hanging from the roof over his head.� They were all still alive, but they were being tortured until every last drop of life was drained from them.� He also realized he was restrained to a desk, and naked.
He struggled to free himself, but failed.� The restraints cut into his skin, but strangely enough he didn�t feel it.
He then made a startling discovery.� His left hand was no longer there.� It had been replaced with a large metal blade.
�What are you doing to me?� he asked.
�You�ve fought against our kind before�What do you think?� the voice said, doing little to hide his amusement.
It didn�t take long for him to realize.� �You�re turning me into a grotesque!�
�Very good, Commissar.� I figure it�s only suited that someone who has served the humans as long as you have, should fight against them at the end.�
�You bastards!� Reynolds screamed, as he renewed his efforts to free himself.
�Now, now, Commissar.� Lie still.� We can�t afford you damaging the equipment.�
A wraith of a figure stepped out of the shadows.� He was a Haemonculus, but decked out in special robes.
�Who are you?� Reynolds inquired while still struggling.
�I am Kazahrn, Master Haemonculus for my Kabal.� He said with a sweeping motion, mocking a bow.� He pressed a button on the desk that Reynolds was strapped to and Steve felt something being injected into his body.
As he faded out of consciousness, he heard Kazahrn add �But, you can call me Master.�