Nine-thousand two-hundred, to the very last. As one of the smaller legions, the Space Wolves were now complete. Composed of twelve companies seven hundred strong, the legion was led by the additional Great Company, eight hundred strong. Standing high above the legion upon the highest balcony of The Fang, were the legion�s three commanders, Omri, �sir and Leman Russ. Gifted with a vast comprehension of military tactics and being a highly charismatic, natural leader, Omri Russ was given command of the first twelve companies. Quiet and reserved, the solitaire �sir Russ was to lead the legion�s honour guard�The Thirteenth Company. Both sons were greatly honoured.
�Omri, �sir, attend to your companies. �sir,� Russ motioned his son closer. After a momentary glare between their eyes, Russ lifted his right arm. He dropped his armoured gauntlet onto �sir�s shoulder, and allowed a quiet moment to pass. Russ turned to face the legion. �sir beamed a heavy smile from behind the voxcaster implant of his grey helmet.
Once �sir joined the head of his company, the Space Wolves raised their right arms high and saluted their primarch.
�To the Imperium!� their numbers cheered. �To the Wulven!�
�To our primarch! Our father! To Leman!!!� �sir and Omri roared.
�To our primarch! Our father! To Leman!!!� the Wolves replied. �To the Emperor!� cheering again. But �sir remained content at silent attention.
That was a time a hundred and eighty years before the heresy. The Horus Heresy. Horus. The greatest of the eighteen primarchs. Practically �sir�s uncle, in the Imperium�s right. Grand Warmaster Horus, of the Sons of Horus, the Space Wolves� brother legion. And now, two years into the long war, the Wulven were assigned to Prospero, home world to the Thousand Sons Space Marine legion. �Their own brethren, who�d of thought this would happen?� thought �sir. A division between the Imperial titans; nine loyalists versus nine Chaos legions. The Imperium still commanded the Ultramarines, Raven Guard, Blood Angels, Dark Angels, Iron Hands, Salamanders, White Scars, Imperial Fists, and the Space Wolves. The Chaos tide consisted of Horus and his Luna Wolves, Angron and the Worldeaters, Magnus the Red and his psychic masters the Thousand Sons, Lorgar leading his Word Bearers, Konrad Curze and his rapid attack Night Lords, Fulgrim and the Emperor�s Children, Mortarion and the Death Guard, Peturabo and his siege masters, the Iron Warriors legion, followed by Alpharius leading the hard striking and infiltrating Alpha Legion.
�Omri, �sir. Captains,� said Leman Russ as he broke their thoughts. The fifteen commanders gathered around the large crystal display table in the center of the tactics projection room. They were above Prospero, on board Russ�s flag battle barge.
�We�re descending upon the Thousand Sons� homeworld. At the planet�s heart, their great black citadel stands. As you know, the citadel has strategically one face. It is set at the base of a mountain in a valley which is now filled by a large acropolis. From slightly past the mouth of the valley, at the entrance of the military sector, to the head of the valley, the citadel, measures a distance of six kilometres. Given our circumstances�a single path to our objective and the fact that we are an aggressive, assault force�I see one fit option. Frontal assault, legion strength. There will be three simultaneous waves in pyramid formation. Companies five, seven, ten, eleven, one, twelve, four, six and three will deploy respectively, in one wall stretching the mouth of the valley. These companies comprise the third wave. Companies eight, two and nine will deploy as the second wave, two kilometres west into the valley, ahead of our wall. The Wulfen will drop two kilometres further than the second wave, four kilometres west of our wall. My company will head the pyramid, with the first wave. Captains, there will be no retreat, nor will there be reserves. There will be six regiments of Hyrkan Imperial Guard, nearly thirteen thousand men positioned to the immediate east. Their sole purpose is to deny any military forces access to the valley from within the eastern half of the city. Commanders, our objective is to purge, moving westward to the last. The last metre or last marine. Understood? This will be an honourable fight. We are not opposing an alien foe, but our very own allies. Although corrupted by Chaos, they were at one time Imperial space marines, mankind�s finest. And for that, I believe they deserve our respect�I would expect nothing less�which is why we are going to give them exactly nothing short of an Imperial motherfuck!!� A ball of laughter burst from the gathered commanders.
�My sons, this will be the greatest fight I will have come to know. Once again, I am greatly honoured to fight along your side. Fight ferociously for we are the Space Wolves!� growled the primarch.
�Fight for one another! For the Emperor! For Fenris! For the Wolftime!!� shouted Russ. �Captains, attend to your duties,� he commanded.
�sir looked around the drop pod. His own personal bodyguard were readying themselves for combat. Apis, the company standard bearer was refitting his ammo. Veteran terminator sergeant Hrolleif was quietly reciting an Imperial creed. Balfrost stood silently in the landing braces holding his meltagun. Fenrir and Lanx were fast at peace with themselves. Four Grey Hunters were chosen by �sir for the drop: Vigfus, Harek, Gizur and Ederyn. �Absolute carnage would rage on for days on end. This would be no battle, no war of attrition,� thought �sir, �just a clash of brute strength and aggression. One side will be overwhelmed.� It was that simple. �I am ready for it,� he thought, �I welcome it,� he laughed to himself, and he knew his chosen do as well.
The opaque, white caution light came to a steady, dull glow. �The time is near,� realized �sir. A few moments passed before the red light flashed, followed by a series of obnoxious rings. The bodyguard prepped themselves for impact. The pod slammed into a concrete road in the middle of a traffic intersection. Many eyes fell upon it. Inside, the third and final light flicked on, a bright blue.
�The time is now,� he started. �For the Wolftime!!� he roared to his Wolf Guard, as the side deployment doors began to open. Gizur took one step before a krak missile tore through his black chest plate and exploded, sending adamantium shrapnel everywhere. �sir�s command squad was able to exit the pod and begin rallying the lasfire of various targets before another missile struck the armoured side of the pod and sent a fountain of debris and sparks into flight. A drop pod caught �sir�s eye as it rapidly descended and struck through a building one block north. �There we are,� he thought as more lasfire reflected harmlessly off his armour, �an immediate objective.� No sooner did he finish his thought a third krak missile passed immediately over his head. Balfrost was knocked off his feet as a bolt round buried itself in the side of his helmet. The enemy fire came to a halt and �sir was able to consolidate his eight bodyguard. A loud battle cry was followed by a charging tide of ex-Imperial guardsmen. �sir and his Wolf Guard were able to draw their close combat weapons in time for the enemy�s ensuing onslaught.
Two platoons of seventy men charged towards the handful of Space Wolves. �sir Russ stepped forward to meet the leading guardsmen. A quick step forward and slightly sideways allowed �sir a hard sweep to the back of the human�s head with the rear facing stock of his massive battleaxe. Another step forward and a two handed horizontal hack split a sergeant in half across the midsection. A third, upward stoke maimed another charging guardsmen. To his right, Balfrost was firing away with his meltagun. The Wolf Guard had positioned themselves into a �v� with �sir at the elbow. Apis stood behind them all and blasted into the human wall with his boltgun. At one flank, Fenrir was maiming guardsmen left and right with his gigantic power mace. No foe clearly seemed a challenge for the biggest Space Wolf in the company. Vigfus was swinging wildly at one particular guardsmen, when an evasive move from the human allowed his axe to sweep across and puncture the promethium fuel tanks of a flamethrower. A violent explosion incinerated the flamethrower and sent a large fireball back towards the Space Wolf, consuming him, along with four guardsmen. Quickly loading two bolt pistols, �sir began firing at the nearest guardsmen. A shot to the head for the Imperial lieutenant battling with Lanx, another headshot for an enemy trooper to �sir�s right. Three rounds through the chest to the closest guardsmen. Dodging the swing of a chainsword, �sir brought the butt of his pistol through the face of his attacker. �sir stopped a lunging guardsmen in mid-air with a bolt round through his neck. Another attacker led with his chainsword, but was brought down by several bolter rounds that disintegrated the man�s head. �sir turned to see Apis growling with pride. He laughed. He turned back to the fight to be surprised with a gaping hole in the enemy�s line. He reloaded one bolt pistol and lurched forward. Moving left, but suddenly turning right, �sir collided with a charging guardsmen. He slammed his head onto the human�s skull and brought both pistols to the stomach of the hung over trooper. Firing rapidly, the Space Wolf blew a gaping hole in the guardsmen. Twenty-some rounds later, a bloody corpse littered the ground. The Wolf Lord looked around the demolished traffic intersection. Only a dozen guardsmen remained. Securing his bolt pistols, he reached for his battleaxe. Joining the assault again, he mopped up three more kills before the skirmish was finished.
�Casualties?� demanded �sir.
�Only Gizur and Vigfus, my lord,� replied Lanx.
�Secure their geneseed, quickly. We are repositioning one block north where that last drop pod land,� he gestured in a northern direction.
A few moments later the unit was on their way down the littered city street. �sir could hear vox chatter broadcasted for the first time since the impact.
**My lord, what is your position?** came the voice over the audio receiver.
*My coordinates are 2.67.18 W, 23.09 N. We are proceeding on route A2 to a drop site a quarter kilometre north.* replied the Wolf Lord.
**My lord, this is W Beta Four. Our current position is 2.67.18 W, 23.16 N. We occupy that drop site. Site is secured. Awaiting orders, my lord.**
*Hold position W Beta Four, my unit is on its way.* instructed �sir.
**Affirmative.** came the voice over �sir�s audio receiver.
The company�s Wolf Lord reached the drop site and united with a pack of twelve Grey Hunters.
�Did you see any drop pods land further north?� inquired �sir Russ.
�No, my lord,� replied the pack leader.
�Good, all pods have landed south or west of our current position. We will move southwest toward the front, where we will unite the company,� instructed the great Wolf Lord.
Nearly a kilometre west of �sir was the location of the legion�s primarch. Within the initial hour of the assault, Russ was able to gather the forces of over twenty drop pods. He now had under his direct command a sizeable force of over two hundred Space Wolves and additional support units such as dreadnoughts and bikes�more than a quarter strength of the Thirteenth Company. The first moments of the assault were devastating. His Wolf Guard�s pod landed directly on a defensive position of the Thousand Sons Space Marines. The squad of six terminators engaged with their guns blazing. Four of the six were armed with assault cannons, multi-barreled guns that fire large bolter rounds. The other two were armed with heavy flamethrowers. All but the pack�s leader was armed with powerfists. The sergeant wielded a powersword hand-crafted from the best of the forge masters on Mars. It gleamed of titanium grey.
The pack stepped out of their pod and into a mass of Thousand Sons marines. The enemy mass blazed away with their boltguns, sending round after round after round into the group of towering, armoured foes. The firestorm marked their targets accurately, but failed to inflict any harm whatsoever, and the terminators kept assaulting, demolishing and incinerating all that stood before them. The Wolf Guard was able to hold the enemy for a significantly long period. Twenty minutes north of Russ�s Wolf Guard, another drop pod landed among the foe. The pod crackled with white energy. The enemy gleamed at the sudden intruding object with guns prepared. A few moments passed before the deployment hatch retracted. Blinding white light tore out and around his surroundings as a lone giant in sky grey armour stepped out of the landing craft. The enemy opened fire at the intruder relentlessly. Rounds dissipated as they came into contact with the great warrior�s psychic force field. The giant wielded his massive powersword. The blade was a psychic entity itself. Originally it was a force weapon grafted from pure Asaheimeian, the strongest metal found on his home world, Fenris. But the Emperor had blessed the sword with a guardian entity that outlined the edge and reinforced the blade�s strength. No blade in the Imperium was said to have been comparable to the strength of Russ�s blade, and when wielded in the hands of Leman Russ, it was a thousand times more deadly. Now it gleamed high above its master�s head as Russ rose it into the sky.
�Death to the impure!!!� he roared across the battlefield so audibly that all within a half kilometre could hear. His first assailant raced towards him. Blue, yellow and gold armour shined brightly in the sunlight. �Brave warrior,� thought Russ as he swung his blade in a wide arc over his shoulder only to come into contact with his foe�s blade. However, there was no block, for Russ�s blade sizzled straight through the other sword and bit deep into the armour of the Thousand Son. The chaos marine was easily sliced in two from shoulder to hip in a split second. Russ surged forward in a sprint into the crowd of Thousand Sons, dancing about them with his bright red blade looping, arcing and flying about him, reaping dozens of impure souls in the Emperor�s name.
A drop pod descended and landed off to Russ�s right, dangerously close to a predator tank. As soon as the deployment doors opened, the predator�s side sponson spurted a gush of intense flame into the cavity, incinerating all within. �Rest their souls; unfortunate warriors,� prayed Russ. The Great Wolf moved south, consistently down the defensive position of the Thousand Sons, bringing sudden death to all within sight.
The nine companies of the third wave, under the command of Omri Russ were making incredible progress. In the first hour of combat, they battled and overcame eight thousand ex-guardsmen of the Prosperon Fire Hands. They were currently forty-five minutes behind the second wave and steadily closing. The motorized second wave progressed quickly, but could not outpace the combined force of the following nine companies.
�sir�s force now moved through a northern gate and into the compound of an abandoned train station. He sent Lanx, Harek and Ederyn forward and around the rear of the station structure to scout the area. Several minutes later they returned with a clear report.
�The compound is clear,� reported Lanx.
�Alright, let�s move through and out to the southern gate, across the loading platforms.�
The group of twenty marines moved through quickly. They crossed an alley and entered the only tall building in the area. Visible from the top floor was the battle raging below. A kilometre away, a sizeable force of Space Wolves had engaged a large amount of their chaos foe. Between his location and the battle, �sir noticed a handful of Long Fangs defending against what seemed to be two platoons of Prosperon Fire Hands. He wasted no time in moving down and forward from the building with his enlarged Wolf Guard. Determined to arrive as aide to the Long Fangs, �sir sprinted forward with his bolt pistols out. His retinue was running not far behind. He arrived behind the guardsmen�s position and opened fire with his pistols. He gunned down an entire squad before any were able to retaliate. His bodyguard arrived to his side weapons blazing. It was only moments before the three veteran Long Fangs were rescued.
�Ahh. . . thankyou, my Lord �sir,� blurted the squad leader, �but we were in no need of any rescue!�
�I undoubtedly agree my brother, but I assure you, that I cannot leave you to all the fun,� replied the Wolf Lord.
�Ahagh, hagh, hagh. I suppose not. Good to see your face, my Lord.�
�We rejoice in your company, old veteran.�
�Miolnir,� the old wolf bowed. �This is Oktel and Dain,� pointing in reference to his two comrades.
�I know,� �sir answered after realizing he knew each Fang�s name before the lead one spoke. �Only three of you, then?� their commander inquired.
�Four. However, we lost brother Soren-Kai immediately after the drop.�
�Alright, Wolves, we�re moving forward to consolidate with the battle ahead,� commanded �sir.
Minutes later �sir and his guard charged into the flank of the large courtyard battle. The Long Fangs moved in between �sir�s Wolf Guard and the large force of the Wulfen. The pack of Grey Hunters moved to the right of �sir and took the very flank of the battle. The two heavy armed Long Fangs began targeting unengaged enemy units with their plasma cannon and missile launcher, while �sir Russ and the rest his Space Wolves charged into the blue, yellow and gold tide of Chaos space marines. Fifteen minutes after �sir Russ and his Wolf Guard arrived, the enemy began to retreat. It was then that the Wolf Lord �sir Russ gave the order to hold their lines and not chase their withdrawing foe. It was important that the Space Wolves consolidate and reorganize.
Another hour passed by the time all isolated units of the 13th Company made their way to �sir�s current position. �sir had under his direct command for the first time since planetfall, a full company. While it took some time to finish analyzing his company�s condition, it was just moments later that he was met by Omri Russ and the Space Wolves Legion.
Soon Leman Russ united with his Wolf Guard, whom had united with Rainer and his pack of fourteen Blood Claws, as well as Thorolf and his pack of eighteen Blood Claws. They now stood within one kilometre of the citadel�s face and approximately a half kilometre south of �sir Russ and his Wolves� current position. From the beginning, the primarch and his Wolf Guard had been battling against a company of Thousand Sons, led by arch-librarian Akil-Heru, the company commander and great master sorcerer. The Space Wolves� command unit had already slain over two-hundred and twenty chaos marines in the previous two hours.
�sir was hunched over a heavy, metal table conferring with his senior commanders. An armoured hand grasped his shoulder and he turned around. ��sir. What is your status?� questioned his twin.
�The Wulfen are currently at eighty-eight percent of company strength, eleven percent casualties,� �sir responded.
�And the one?� inquired Omri angrily.
�Well, he�s out there��
�Where is he?!?!� shouted Omri Russ.
�He . . .is out there,� gesturing towards the citadel.
�And where are you?� replied Omri angrily.
�Here, being denied further ground. And then, when given the opportunity, reorganizing to proceed at full company strength. Just as any commander would do before he and his marines are entirely annihilated!� raising his voice. A fist came flying forward, towards his face, but �sir was too quick and dodged the blow. He answered with a left cross that was caught in mid path. Omri spun around and tripped �sir to the ground. He wielded his blade and slammed the butt of the sword into the back of �sir�s head, knocking him unconscious. �Fool!!! All of you,� pointing to �sir�s lieutenants, �You�re master has stained your honour! You have failed your only duty! I relieve the Thirteenth Company of its honour. First company is now the legion�s honour guard,� declared Omri.
He spat in the direction of the Wulfen�s senior commanders.
�What are you implying, Omri Russ?� demanded Khalid, the senior Rune Priest of the Thirteenth Company.
�That I see no place for any mighty Thirteen in my legion,� he replied.
�Let�s move,� commanded the Wolf Lord as he spun around and departed through his own body guard.
Within an hour, Omri Russ had reached Leman Russ�s position. The primarch�s contingent had been battling at close quarters for a very long time.
�Master, we have arrived for the final fight,� spoke Omri, once reaching his primarch�s position.
�Then we shall fight as one to the last,� greeted the primarch. �Where is your brother?�
�He was delaying his aide to you! No honour guard should stop to reorganize! His duty is to aide and guard you at all costs, under all circumstances. He is to guard, then command. �I did not see him fit to continue his duties. I was enraged to see his actions. I punished him. �We fought quickly, and I have temporarily broken his consciousness,� replied Omri.
�Omri, to me, you are a brother first, and a commander second. Whose legion is this? What have you done! You have ignited an eternal feud to come. You have stained the Thirteen�s honour. You have stained my honour,� said the primarch.
Conversational silence parted their words, but the battle raged on about them. The Space Wolves were arriving now, stretching the line of battle forever outwards to legion strength. The enemy had reinforced itself as well, answering the Wolves� call.
�You have broken my legion! You have removed its head,� started Russ.
�And yet it grows another,� replied Omri, beating his chest.
Russ began shaking, his body and head shaking furiously.
��RRRAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!� he screamed, his roar deafening his followers and overcoming the cry of battle. �We will settle this matter after this world,� shouted Russ, as he darted pass his Wolves and into the line of battle. He raised his sword for his Wulfen, in a salute to his best warriors, who aren�t currently fighting in the legion�s most historic battle. He brought the massive blade down onto a Thousand Son�s shoulder pad and through his armour. Several Wolves about Russ fell backwards after being cut down by heavy bolter fire. Russ rose his head to meet the glaze of a towering dreadnought.
The walker moved first. A lightning fast blow of its power scourge came about. Russ stepped to meet the machine�s move with a block of his force sword. Again and again the machine striked, but the primarch was too quick and extremely too strong for the giant machine�s blows. Then, on a looping swing of the machine�s attack, Russ spun forward furiously with a wide arcing swing, and cut across the tainted machine�s midsection, before dodging its last swing. The dreadnought tore into two pieces as the torso spun around and onto the ground. Otrygg stepped forward and torched the mechanical beast with a bout of flaring promethium.
Russ looked forward, past his enemies to the face of the embedded citadel. �We aren�t far,� thought the primarch. He panned his head from left to right, observing the legion to legion assault before him. �The Thousand Sons are not of full strength,� he noticed. In fact, the Thousand Sons were significantly outnumbered. �Such high potential,� thought the Space Wolves master, �so much honour lost.� But he knew why. There would be greater honour inside�
Some time later, �sir awoke. He found his commanders waiting. They were waiting, but they were ready.
�Master, we are ready,� informed Khalid. �Omri has reached Russ, and has consolidated the legion. They are fighting as we speak, practically legion to legion.�
There was silence.
�Have they reached the citadel?� �sir asked quietly.
�No, my Lord. They battle before it, and have been fighting all afternoon. It is nearing nightfall,� replied Khalid.
�Then we shall infiltrate and penetrate the citadel,� commanded �sir.
Down below, the battle had compacted, and both sides began recycling troops to hold their line. In the past several hours, �sir and his company had made their way around the battle and up the ridge, towards the edge of the citadel. They were currently about six hundred metres from the enemy line. The Rune Priest, Khalid, was sent ahead to lead the way, with a double scout support, who constantly circled his position. As a librarian, Khalid could detect the psychic presence of others.
Russ had sensed a recent change in atmospheric pressure and an increase in psychic presence. He predicted the chaos powers were about to realize some horrific plan. And now, the enemy marines that Russ and his Wolf Guard had been battling had begun to withdraw. �It is�.� thought Russ, �It can only be.� Above the battle, behind the Thousand Sons� line, a dense, black cloud began to precipitate. Twisting and compacting, the cloud came to life with a flash, as the air suddenly ripped apart and a gaping black hole momentarily existed in the atmosphere. A magnificently scaled and winged creature stepped into their reality, followed by many smaller pink, hideous creatures. The monstrous creature reached a height of seven metres, with a body robed in white cloak, overlapped by a shining, gold loincloth. Its head was oblong, led by a long, slender beak. The daemon carried itself in a hunch and wielded a tall, black staff, twisted with runes of emperor knows what, topped by a golden crest. Its eyes penetrating, black and cold, it was a Greater Daemon of Tzeentch: a chosen necromancer gifted with evil immortality. The Lord of Change was the greatest psychic entity known to the Imperium, capable of the most devastating and mind-warping spells.
The bird-like daemon spoke in a growling, inconsistent and choppy language.
�I am Nexeu-Kek, master sorcerer and servant to none other than the Lord Tzeentch,� it repeated in a smooth Gothic dialect.
�Then for none other than the God-Emperor himself, I shall make this kill!!!� Russ shouted, as he began moving toward the towering creature.
As the Space Wolves� primarch began walking forward, a white, static dome encircled the two great warriors. The Greater Daemon cast a psychic barrier to protect their inevitable fight from incoming interference.
The daemon brought his staff across his body and grasped it with his other claw. It lurched forward with a lightning fast blow that was dodged by its much smaller opponent. The Space Wolf brought his sword forward for an attack. He charged forward with his blade risen high. He slashed diagonally, but his swing was blocked by the staff of the daemon. The daemon attacked again with another crushing blow of his staff, this time with great precision. It caught the Space Wolf in the chest, sending him to the ground. Russ gathered himself quickly, before a swing from the daemon�s staff slammed the ground where his head just lay. He wielded his sword again. He dashed forward in fury, both hands grasping his magnificent blade. He jumped forward and brought his armoured foot into the cage of bones composing the daemon�s torso. The daemon stepped back, growling in rage. Russ swung his blade, but was denied yet again by the daemon�s staff. The daemon countered with a quick blow to the Space Wolf�s lower leg, sending him sprawling onto his back. A bolt of energy cast from the daemon�s hands sent Russ�s blade into flight, across the ground. He hopped to his feet and immediately blocked his opponents attack with a one handed block. Russ turned and stared into the daemon�s eyes as they each struggled to overcome each other�s strength. Russ blinked, and saw a glimpse of the future. He saw himself standing in a massive chamber, before a powerful sorcerer. He blinked again and realized the daemon had his claw clamped about his throat, sending large doses of psychic bursts into the Space Wolf�s mind. However, Russ resisted, but struggled against the strength of the daemon. The daemon cast his staff aside and lifted Russ high above the ground, holding onto his throat.
Outside the dome, Omri Russ could see his Lord struggling in battle. The winged daemon had Leman Russ lifted several metres above the ground.
He had battled many a time and had never witnessed any creatures such as the ones he fought about him now. As he shot, slashed and brought death to the pink daemonic creatures, they simply ripped apart as two, smaller blue daemons raced outwards. It seemed now, that the Space Wolves� foe attacked with a resurgence granted by the presence of this damned monstrous creature. Omri prepped himself for another wave of an attack.
Russ reached behind his back for his bolt pistol. With his left arm he grabbed the daemon�s arm, and brought the pistol around and pressed it against the scales of the daemon. He fired away, and soon fell to the ground. As the daemon writhed backward in pain, Russ willed himself towards his blade. He wielded his hefty blade again, and turned to face the daemon, who now stood enraged, sneering at him. He charged forward, but was met by a thick beam of energy, bringing him to a halt. He pressed forward, but was blinded and held to a pause. The daemon took this opportunity to attack while it held its opponent with a psychic fireball. The Lord of Change shifted and stepped outward, sending his staff under the arm of the Space Wolf, which pierced the armour and wounded the him. The wounded Space Wolf removed himself from the daemon�s staff, stumbling backwards, blade still in hand. The daemon cast another spell, gifting Russ with a paralyzing body suit of white-hot electricity. Russ had failed to this point, and knew his end was near if he didn�t overcome this psychic paralysis. He struggled to gather himself, but he couldn�t focus his thoughts, without first being overwhelmed by the searing pain the daemon was inflicting. The Great Wolf struggled furiously and began shaking, uncontrollably. He leaned back and let loose a horrific roar of rage into the sky. He concentrated on the psychic presence of his blade and he joined its strength with his own psychic abilities, his intentions set on cracking the daemon�s painful barrier. It began to work and the daemon�s paralyzing suit split open, freeing the furious warrior from within. Russ grasped his blade with two hands as he spun around to his right, focusing all his physical, mental and psychic strength into his swing. As he turned completely around, his sword met the daemon�s hide across its torso. A gaping gash scarred the daemon�s body. Russ hadn�t finished his attack when he tore a three-sixty and brought his sword low for his finishing move. Again, as the Space Wolf revolved, he swung his sword from below his left waist. It followed upwards and under the daemon�s head, ripping it into two. The daemon left its mutilated body and vanished. Defeated, the Lord of Change failed its master and was instantly stripped of any physical body for ever.
The electrostatic dome collapsed and Russ noticed that the battle had been raging on without him. It appeared that their foe had been fighting more furiously now than ever before. Omri Russ was just to his right, fighting fiercely. He wondered about his other son, �sir, and his where-abouts as he hadn�t heard from him the whole battle. He promised himself he would see his son before the battle finished. He concluded his thoughts and rejoined the battle.
�sir gathered his commanders silently, as Khalid returned from his scouting assignment.
�My Lord, me eyes see nothing, but yet I sense the presence of another being,� the Librarian reported.
�Is the presence tainted? Evil?� inquired the Great Company�s master.
�No, it appears neutral,� Khalid responded.
�Then we shall proceed, with caution. But your reports aren�t going to slow us down. The following shall be our attack plan. We are going to attack the flank of the main battle line. My bodyguard and I, along with sixty Blood Claws are going to dawn jump packs. Our group is going to launch upwards and descend behind the Thousand Sons� line. However, first, Khalid, you will lead a group of approximately one hundred and twenty Wolves forward�Grey Hunters�mind you, as stealthily as possible towards the line. When you are in position, my group will launch and descend upon them from behind. When we land, you charge forward. The last group will be a much larger wave, second to Khalid�s, which will consist of the rest of the company�bikes, dreadnoughts, Blood Claws, Long Fangs and the last of the Grey Hunters,� explained �sir.
�Khalid, take the one-hundred and twenty Grey Hunters equally, from task forces Alpha and Psi. When you are in position, voxcast me. I will be waiting,� commanded �sir.
The force of Khalid gathered silently, and began descending down the slope towards the line, to get into position. �sir, his bodyguard and a large group of Blood claws from task force Omicron dawned and refitted their jump packs. Twenty-five minutes later, Khalid voxed in a message. �sir signaled his force to start their jump packs. Many pairs of small orange flares ignited as the Space Wolves began to levitate above the ground.
�It is time again, my brothers! We do this in the name of our broken honour. . . for the Wulfen!� �sir shouted, as they all vanished into the nite air.
Sethos looked about him. All seemed quiet on the left flank of the Thousand Sons� line. Some three hundred Thousand Sons marines guarded this portion of the citadel. He and his company brethren had seen little engagement since the drop sites of this battle. Sethos wished to taste the blood of battle again. His twisted mind pondered on towards visions of battle.
Suddenly, he noticed movement to his left as his thoughts dissipated. He turned his head to see, when he slumped backwards off his feet and onto the ground. He felt blood pumping out of his neck and reached to touch his neck armour. He felt flesh. A gaping hole existed where his thick ceramite armour once did. His head dropped sideways as the pain overwhelmed his consciousness. The last thing he saw was his brother marines mutilated head, or what was left of a skull and part of the marine�s helmet. Ten more chaos marines dropped dead silent within the minute.
On the opposite side of the Chaos line, far away, on the top of the surrounding ridge, lay Dywx. He quickly and silently loaded another eight Hellbreaker shells into his needle rifle. He glanced to his left to see a group of twin rockets ignite and vanish into the air. He shifted back to his targets. Dywx set his eye behind his long, sleek scope and began picking the Thousand Sons off one by one again, keeping count of his helpless victims.
Russ and Omri made slow progress towards the citadel, one metre at a time, paying preciously for every step of ground they won. The Space Wolves legion had moved forward, but just slightly. The battle raged on furiously. The Thousand Sons were putting on a fierce fight, but were very slowly giving in as the Space Wolves pressed on.
�sir and his Blood Claws began their descent behind the enemy line. They were rapidly approaching the enemy position and their engines became louder. However, the sound of battle drowned out the noise and they were able to land unnoticed. The chaos marines were deployed in a battle like fashion. Some kills had already been made, as several dead chaos marines littered the ground. �sir knew it wasn�t Khalid�s marines inflicting the damage. He wondered whether the enemy even knew a large Space Wolves contingent were about to attack them. With all sixty of his Blood Claws on the ground and his bodyguard as well, they began their move forward. They wouldn�t fire until they were noticed. If he could get his marines into assault with the chaos marines, �sir knew his Blood Claws would fare much better than the defensive, non-close quarter oriented Thousand Sons. They were metres away when a chaos marine turned about and raised the alarm. �sir commanded all of his marines to toss their grenades. Moments later a short series of many small explosions wrought havoc on the Thousand Sons line. Chaos marines were incinerated left and right, while others were merely compressed within their armour. He and his marines fired away. It was mayhem. He switched his pack on and leaped into the middle of combat. With that sight, Khalid commanded his Wolves to move out. They charged out of concealment, guns blazing into what was now the back line of the Thousand Sons chaos marines. The enemy marines were dropping like flies. Khalid thought they miraculously fired with great precision, but he was unaware of his company�s help on the overlying ridge behind him.
Again and again Dywx fired away. Thirty-four was his current kill count. �sir moved about dodging blows of neighboring marines. He swung his massive battleaxe in a wide horizontal arc, using both hands. Three chaos marines were split in half as his blow cut through each marine�s armour. �sir took a step passed the three former Thousand Sons marines and into the sight of a sorcerer. �A challenge�� �sir thought. The sorcerer brought his sword about and grasped it with two hands. He flicked it forward and a pan of flame spit across the air towards the great Wolf Lord. �sir ducked and let the flame pass, grabbing his axe so it protruded from the bottom of his hands. He lurched forward and out, bringing his axe out from under and across the sorcerer�s torso, slicing him into two. He slipped his weapon over his should and reached for his bolt pistols. He emptied the pistol clips as he spun around, sending round after round into several nearby chaos marines.
By now, Khalid and his men had joined the fight. Now, the fight was even in numbers, but �sir knew that his marines would soon overcome their foes. The remaining Space Wolves were charging forth. They were followed steadily by a silent Vindicare Assassin.
Omri glanced past the enemy for a second as he witnessed several explosions, farther forward and to the right, past the enemy line. He signaled his Wolf Guard, other company commanders and Leman Russ, withdrawing to a position behind their own line.
�Someone is making progress on their left flank, to our right,� Omri blurted. �Right. If it that is an allied force, than we shall be at luck. I want all company commanders to bring their companies forward, rotate your rapid attack units to the front of the line. All supporting units, save any Long Fangs and dreadnoughts, will be denied to us upon entry of the citadel. Save these units, I want all supporting units in the front line. Save the Grey Hunters for reserve. Send the Blood Claws ahead. They won�t matter. I want all companies expanded, no company in reserve. We are going to press forward and drain the chaos marines back into the citadel, or we will overcome them, the latter the better. I don�t want any pause in the line. I want all companies presently in reserve, fit the flanks and compact our line towards my position here. Make our line as tight as possible. Organize your companies quickly now. Commanders! We will pause for no one! Fight furiously, relentlessly! For the Emperor!� shouted their primarch, Leman Russ.
The Space Wolves� senior commanders moved out to their respective companies� positions.
Within the hour, �sir and the Thirteenth Company eliminated the Thousand Sons� left flank and began pressing towards the citadel. �sir gathered his commanders.
�Brothers, I want task force formation, Alpha and Omicron in primary position; Beta, Epsilon and Psi in reserve�tight formation. I want to press forward and set up a safe zone at the citadel�s entrance, on the legion�s right flank. Once there, we will wait until our master arrives. With his company, we shall progress,� commanded �sir Russ.
A half hour passed before The Great Company made their way to the Thousand Sons� citadel�s mouth. It had been intense fighting, but given the fact they weren�t far form the entrance, it was just a relatively short amount of time before they arrived.
Shortly thereafter, Leman Russ and the legion arrived. Russ confronted �sir in the absence of Omri, and rather in the presence of the Thirteenth Company. ��sir, you have proved yourself brilliantly! You have gathered the whole company, and made the enemy break their lines now,� Russ spoke.
�Yet, I haven�t completed my primary objective until now,� returned �sir.
�Do not worry for me, my son, for I can take care of myself. What challenge have you seen, that I have not yet overcome?�
�Still, my Lord, it is my duty,� responded the Wolf Lord.
�I am not furious. I am not disappointed. I am not regretful� but proud.�
�You are wounded,� �sir noticed as Russ winced when he shifted his weight.
�A mere Changer of Ways landed a clever blow. That is all�� explained the Great Wolf. Come now. Let us take our objective.�
They moved out of �sir�s safe zone, back to the head of the Space Wolves legion. Omri had summoned six dreadnoughts forward and into a convex line, facing the entrance of the citadel. They provided an area protected against enemy defense fire. The twin Wolf Lords did not acknowledge one another when brought together again.
�We are about to break into our foe�s last large, measure of defense. We will not be able to press the whole legion into the citadel. So all supporting units will stay outside. We will bring dreadnoughts and our venerable Long Fangs inside. I want a scouting party to penetrate the objective first. Twenty terminators and a single dreadnought will suffice. After they clear the path and report all observations, then I will send in task force, after task force. I shall lead the primary task force�task force Alpha from the Great Company. Only those marked as the Wulfen, will escort me to the face of the final battle. After the complete Thirteenth Company has advanced through the entrance, the first company shall follow, then the remaining companies in order,� commanded their primarch.
�Understood, my Lord,� replied the company commanders.
�Send in the scouting unit.�
Nite fell before the scouting unit was prepared to go. A single dreadnought armed with a twin lascannon, was supporting a group of twenty terminators, armed with storm bolters, assault cannons and heavy flamers, all of whom were gathered from the third company. Once united, they marched forward and into the mouth of the citadel. As soon as they disappeared into the dark of the tunnel, a sudden and fierce firefight broke out.
**My Lord, the passage way is unlit. It spans approximately twelve metres wide and ten metres tall.** reported the Wolf Guard leader.
*Proceed. What is your current opposition?* inquired Russ.
**Just regular Thousand Sons marines.**
*Proceed until you reach the end of the pathway. Report once this objective is achieved.*
**Affirmative.** responded the pack leader.
Several moments later, the pack leader voxed in:
**My Lord, we can�t pass�**
The message was broken. A second later a muffled roar was drowned by a large fireball that came searing out of the citadel�s entrance. Leman Russ roared in frustration as some of his finest warriors were instantly incinerated. Determination and furious anger overwhelmed him as he charged into the tunnel, ahead of schedule. He was followed by �sir and his Wolf Guard, then by the startled Task Force Alpha of the Thirteenth Company.
In the dark of nite, Dywx managed his way inside the tunnel unnoticed, just after the fireball passed. He proceeded, crawling along the tunnel wall, past many Thousand Sons, until he reached a small cut in the rocky tunnel. There he hid himself in a shadow. He prepared his needle rifle with another set of Hellbreaker rounds. He took aim through his infrared lens and squeezed the trigger. The lead Thousand Sons marine dropped forward as the front of his helmet exploded in a tangled mess of bone, flesh and sinew. The next chaos sentry froze in the darkness, in an attempt to mask his presence against his predator. Another shot whizzed through the tunnel, silently. It shattered the marine�s eye guard, jolting his head back and exploding out the back of his [MELON], dropping the sentry limp to the ground. Dywx fired six more rounds, before sliding back into the crack high in the tunnel.
Russ engaged his force shield, after he entered the citadel�s entrance. To identify units in the darkness, he used his psychic sight to see life energies contrasting against the dull, lifeless rock. He slowed to a walk after he passed several dead chaos marines, of whom each had their head blown out. Several steps later the Great Wolf discovered more, precisely assassinated chaos marines. �No Space Wolf in an intense firefight would have had time to measure their shots this precisely,� he thought to himself. Farther down the tunnel, he saw remnants of the scouting force. Fragments of tactical dreadnought armour littered the ground. Before them, a large steaming hulk of metal lay. �Twenty-one fine warriors lost here,� he realized. Russ reached around his waist and grasped his master crafted plasma pistol. The Space Wolves� master commander and his Wolf Guard progressed farther down the tunnel.
Ten minutes later, the tunnel widened into a small chamber which on the opposing side a tall, hooded creature stood guard to a set of steel reinforced double doors. Leman Russ stepped forward to face the obsidian hued daemon, alone. The Anubite spoke;
�[None shall pass.]�
The Space Wolve [frowned and] wielded his magnificent sword, and tucked his plasma pistol away. Russ charged forward with his blade risen high. The dark creature met the Space Wolf�s blow with a block from its own sword. Russ struck again, tearing a wide arc from left to right. The creature parried again. Again he attacked, but was evenly matched with a precisely landed block. Then, Russ attempted another series of blows of which all were again, deftly blocked. The creature ducked after its last block, and lurched forward, making its first attack of the fight. The daemon of Tzeentch brought its sword forward and up, directing an accurate jab at its foe�s torso. But the Space Wolf was too quick to succumb so easily, and allowed his weight to drop to the right. He followed with a wide step to the daemon�s outside, then a finishing move. He brought his sword up and under his hands, bringing it down and thrusting it into daemon�s dark hide. The daemon screamed and dropped onto the ground, writhing in pain. A few moments later, the creature dissipated into the cool air.
Russ slammed his sword into the steel doors, allowing its psychic power to overwhelm the circuitry and power source holding the doors together. The doors snapped apart and Russ slammed them completely open, against the old earthen walls. A rocky ledge jutted outwards about five metres. Below him stood a very large chamber, over a kilometre in diameter. A ring of several Thousand Sons encircled a golden portal.
As the Great Wolf walked completely to the edge of the ledge, the portal began to come to life, shimmering and vibrating, as the chaos marines began summoning daemons. Leman Russ howled furiously, before he wielded his blade high above his head and jumped off the ledge into the melee below. The Space Wolves� primarch landed amid a group of Thousand Sons terminators. He dropped four chaos marines in a matter of seconds. �sir and his Wolf Guard fired up their jump packs and soared of the ledge, accompanying their commander into combat. Russ immediately consolidated with �sir and began purging his way to the center of the circle.
By this time, an alarmed had been raised and the entire contingent of chaos marines stood aware of their intruders. At the same time, all of the Space Wolves had made it into the tunnel and were quickly jumping off the ledge and into combat below them. Russ looked back to witness his legion jumping into battle, one after the other, in a steady flow that never ceased to end. He was proud and his vigor was renewed.
The Space Wolf primarch had met foe after foe, but none, withstood a chance against his god-like skills. Terminators, Thousand Sons, horrors of Tzeentch, daemons, daemonic beasts, dreadnoughts, the possessed and mighty sorcerers all fell to Russ�s blade. His thirst for retribution was far from quenched. He soon cleared a path to the center of the cult circle, where the greater daemons stood, awaiting him.
Nine Changer of Ways stood waiting. Nine. Never before, had Russ witnessed more than three greater daemons along the same battlefield, but nine? Nine daemon princes summoned for the greatest battle fought in the name of Tzeentch. Their presence alone, fiddled with Leman�s level of psychic awareness, eating away at his energy. Before them, stood Magnus. Magnus the Red, the cyclopean giant; primarch of the Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marine legion. Several of the greater daemons stepped forward, with intentions to fight first. �sir and Omri Russ, followed by Khalid, stepped into the eye of the circle, to Russ�s aide.
�CONQUER OR DIE!!!� he screamed his maxim across the chamber, as they charged, blade wielded in both hands. Russ was fully aware that he would not live through this fight if it continued on through its entirety.