Thunder Run
Judge Vapner watched the Rhinos crawl down the road in front of him. Behind each one was a line of people, shackled and herded by giants in gun metal armor.
The judge spat in disgust.
Iron Warriors.
The Iron Warriors had struck hard and fast, raiding the Manufactorum before anyone even knew they were in system. That they had struck at the Manufactorum fit exactly within the parameters he had been informed of by Marshall Mervis. The taking of prisoners was unusual though. The Iron Warriors had no regard for human life, they craved only technology and the machinery of death. So why take prisoners? Vapner didn't know. But he did know those prisoners were Imperial Citizens, and thus under his protection.
Vapner stood up on the top of his Repressor. A deputy handed him the a mouthpiece. Vapner flicked it on, broadcasting across all vox channels and from the loudcaster on his repressor.
"Attention," his voice boomed between the buildings. "You are in violation of at least 37 edicts of Imperial Law. Place your weapons on the ground and prepare for judgment and summary execution."
Without waiting for a response, Judge Vapner gave the signal to advance and the Adeptus Arbites opened fire.
* * *
Kobarde laughed as the air filled with weapons fire. Arbites? Was this the best this world could muster to face him? Pathetic. One of his warriors came running up to where Kobarde stood. He had selected a small space between two Rhinos, using the tanks to cover him from the Arbites weapons fire. He had nothing but contempt for the Arbites, but he wasn't about to expose himself to their weapons.
"Warsmith," the Iron Warrior said. "It's an ambush. What are your orders?"
Kobarde sneered at his lackey. "Execute the prisoners immediately, and then make a break for the extraction point. Don't waste anymore time than necessary on the Arbites."
"What? If we execute the prisoners what was the purpose of the raid?"
"That does not concern you. Execute the prisoners. Our reinforcements will be here shortly."
The Iron Warrior nodded and ran back to his position. A moment later the screams of the prisoners filled the air as the bolts of the Iron Wqarriors began shredding their bodies.
* * *
Deep in the warp something stirred. Far away it could hear something screaming. It moved towards it.
Screaming. More screaming. And death. Such sounds. Delicious. Exquisite. Irresistable.
There. Prisoners. Dying. Despair and misery so thick one could taste it.
The Keeper of Secrets carressed the wall that seperated it from the mortal world. The Keepers attention focussed. There. That one. What was it called? Kobarde. Yes, Kobarde. He had asked for something. What was it? Escape. That's right. The Keeper of Secrets would allow the Iron Warrior to escape from his enemies, and the Iron Warrior would give him access to the mortal world and all the experiences it held.
That would be enough this time. But the Keeper of Secrets would demand more from Kobarde in the future. Oh yes. It always wanted more...
The Keeper pressed its claws against the barrier again, and this time it gave way with the sound of tearing flesh...
* * *
Judge Vapner cursed. It was all happening too fast.
The prisoners had been executed. That was fine. Better they die as Imperial Citizens than they live as Iron Warrior slaves. But the air above their bodies had torn open and shimmering creatures had begun to pour out. The Iron Warriors throttled up their Rhinos and began moving off. With the warp creatures between them, there was no way the Arbites would catch them in time. Vapner tried to vox for reinforcements, but couldn't make anything out through the static caused by the warp rifts.
The Iron Warriors were going to escape and there was nothing he could do about it. It would take the intervention of the Emperor to stop them now.
There was a thundercrack of displaced air. Vapner looked to the cloudy sky. The clouds were being pushed out of shape as something shot through them at incredible speeds. A single white pod burst from the cloud bank and slammed into the ground a dozen meters in front of the lead Rhino. It sent a shockwave rolling across the ground. Vapner found it hard to believe that anything made of mere flesh and blood could survive that impact. There was a loud pop and the sides of the drop pod flew open.
With the whining of hydraulics and the hissing of pistons, an ancient god of war strode out from within the drop pod. White armor gleamed in the sunlight from the hole in the clouds, glinting off the twin missiles mounted on it's shoulders. The front was of the machine was studded with thick iron plates and fragmentation launchers. One hand was a massive fist, the other an equally massive hammer. The name Mongo was emblazoned across the sarcophagus in proud lettering. Vapner was speechless. He had never seen anything like it.
The Ironclad squared off with the rapidly approaching lead Rhino. Speakers crackled to life on the dreadnaughts hull. With a roar the dreadnaught spoke. "You shall not pass, traitor scum!"
A voice cut through the static on Vapner's vox, crisp and clear as if he had been standing next to him. "It appears the you have bit off a bit more than you can chew. Allow me to lend a hand."
Vapner looked across the road. Bikers in gleaming white armor were slamming into the Iron Warriors flank, preventing them from escaping. Vapner mouthed a quick prayer of thanks to the Emperor. The White Scars had arrived.
The judge spat in disgust.
Iron Warriors.
The Iron Warriors had struck hard and fast, raiding the Manufactorum before anyone even knew they were in system. That they had struck at the Manufactorum fit exactly within the parameters he had been informed of by Marshall Mervis. The taking of prisoners was unusual though. The Iron Warriors had no regard for human life, they craved only technology and the machinery of death. So why take prisoners? Vapner didn't know. But he did know those prisoners were Imperial Citizens, and thus under his protection.
Vapner stood up on the top of his Repressor. A deputy handed him the a mouthpiece. Vapner flicked it on, broadcasting across all vox channels and from the loudcaster on his repressor.
"Attention," his voice boomed between the buildings. "You are in violation of at least 37 edicts of Imperial Law. Place your weapons on the ground and prepare for judgment and summary execution."
Without waiting for a response, Judge Vapner gave the signal to advance and the Adeptus Arbites opened fire.
* * *
Kobarde laughed as the air filled with weapons fire. Arbites? Was this the best this world could muster to face him? Pathetic. One of his warriors came running up to where Kobarde stood. He had selected a small space between two Rhinos, using the tanks to cover him from the Arbites weapons fire. He had nothing but contempt for the Arbites, but he wasn't about to expose himself to their weapons.
"Warsmith," the Iron Warrior said. "It's an ambush. What are your orders?"
Kobarde sneered at his lackey. "Execute the prisoners immediately, and then make a break for the extraction point. Don't waste anymore time than necessary on the Arbites."
"What? If we execute the prisoners what was the purpose of the raid?"
"That does not concern you. Execute the prisoners. Our reinforcements will be here shortly."
The Iron Warrior nodded and ran back to his position. A moment later the screams of the prisoners filled the air as the bolts of the Iron Wqarriors began shredding their bodies.
* * *
Deep in the warp something stirred. Far away it could hear something screaming. It moved towards it.
Screaming. More screaming. And death. Such sounds. Delicious. Exquisite. Irresistable.
There. Prisoners. Dying. Despair and misery so thick one could taste it.
The Keeper of Secrets carressed the wall that seperated it from the mortal world. The Keepers attention focussed. There. That one. What was it called? Kobarde. Yes, Kobarde. He had asked for something. What was it? Escape. That's right. The Keeper of Secrets would allow the Iron Warrior to escape from his enemies, and the Iron Warrior would give him access to the mortal world and all the experiences it held.
That would be enough this time. But the Keeper of Secrets would demand more from Kobarde in the future. Oh yes. It always wanted more...
The Keeper pressed its claws against the barrier again, and this time it gave way with the sound of tearing flesh...
* * *
Judge Vapner cursed. It was all happening too fast.
The prisoners had been executed. That was fine. Better they die as Imperial Citizens than they live as Iron Warrior slaves. But the air above their bodies had torn open and shimmering creatures had begun to pour out. The Iron Warriors throttled up their Rhinos and began moving off. With the warp creatures between them, there was no way the Arbites would catch them in time. Vapner tried to vox for reinforcements, but couldn't make anything out through the static caused by the warp rifts.
The Iron Warriors were going to escape and there was nothing he could do about it. It would take the intervention of the Emperor to stop them now.
There was a thundercrack of displaced air. Vapner looked to the cloudy sky. The clouds were being pushed out of shape as something shot through them at incredible speeds. A single white pod burst from the cloud bank and slammed into the ground a dozen meters in front of the lead Rhino. It sent a shockwave rolling across the ground. Vapner found it hard to believe that anything made of mere flesh and blood could survive that impact. There was a loud pop and the sides of the drop pod flew open.
With the whining of hydraulics and the hissing of pistons, an ancient god of war strode out from within the drop pod. White armor gleamed in the sunlight from the hole in the clouds, glinting off the twin missiles mounted on it's shoulders. The front was of the machine was studded with thick iron plates and fragmentation launchers. One hand was a massive fist, the other an equally massive hammer. The name Mongo was emblazoned across the sarcophagus in proud lettering. Vapner was speechless. He had never seen anything like it.
The Ironclad squared off with the rapidly approaching lead Rhino. Speakers crackled to life on the dreadnaughts hull. With a roar the dreadnaught spoke. "You shall not pass, traitor scum!"
A voice cut through the static on Vapner's vox, crisp and clear as if he had been standing next to him. "It appears the you have bit off a bit more than you can chew. Allow me to lend a hand."
Vapner looked across the road. Bikers in gleaming white armor were slamming into the Iron Warriors flank, preventing them from escaping. Vapner mouthed a quick prayer of thanks to the Emperor. The White Scars had arrived.