Imperium - Dynasty Begins Ch. 05

He woke up from a deep sleep. His breath was heavy and uneven.

He couldn't remember the last time he had a wet dream. Yet here he was as evidence was slowly spreading in this underwear.

Claude sighed. Quickly showered and changed clothes. He had to admit that Captain Vallerie was highly attractive and alluring woman. Yet, he had to stop these feelings from developing any further.

He quickly donned his combat armor, took his rifle and pistol and walked out into the ever-changing landscape that is Primus 2. The newly named planet that held so much strategic importance for the imperium.

The Swarm, vast and without mercy attacked at opportune moments. Dragging away few marines at a time.

He approached the lookout and asked, "How many tonight?"

"Four attacks. One marine missing in action." The guard recited.

"To quote someone famous, Fuck." Claude exclaimed.

"Quote who, sir?" The marine asked puzzled.

Claude saw the man's odd expression and shook his head, "Never mind trooper. I was just making a lame joke."

"Captain," he heard someone calling him from behind, an another trooper running toward him urgently.

Claude turned his head to see a fully clad combat marine stop before him breathe deeply, obviously deeply concerned about something.

"Yes?"

"We need you, someone from up high sent a Psyker." The man whispered.

Claude's eyes went wide with shock and awe.

He expected it, but still the news wasn't good. The Imperium's many magic users were usually reserved and welcoming, creepy nonetheless with their use of supernatural, yet Psykers were the only ones that seemed to lack any kind of empathy. Usually Psykers were sent to combat only as a last result. They were indispensable to the Imperium, only going to these combat areas when there were no other choices. Or the Imperium's Space Marines were about to be defeated.

The Captain never met a Psyker that hasn't terrified him. Cold and calculating for lack of better words, they were an un-emotional vessels of destruction.

Claude was welcomed by the odd man in the command room. As soon as the man met his eyes he knew he was dealing with a psychopath. The man looked at everyone like they were his lambs brought for slaughter. His personal test subjects.

The man was dressed in black and looked at objects in the room with a deep disturbing stare. Picking up one at a time and staring at it for few moments, then carefully setting it down where it was. Sometimes he would lean his head from side to side and proceed to look at another like he was evaluating every object for its purpose.

The man's black robes were dragging on the floor as he walked from one spot to the other. On his chest there was a tiny emblem of Psykers of the Imperium.

Psykers' job differed from person to person. Chapter to chapter. Sometimes in times of great need a person would be called upon to enact their vicious attacks on the enemies of the Imperium. Often decimating their foes on the battlefield. Other times their mystical energies would be used to direct the attack of the Empresses' mad dogs. Some of them shared deep connections to the Empress, others firmly believed in the Warp.

A dark clothed man started to speak, a dreary, mellow voice escaped his lips, "I was sent here, be the high lord of Terra to judge these beasts in the name of our Empress. It would seem that you have had a hard time with several beasts in particular. Care to explain?"

His voice sounded charming and Claude had to stop himself from divulging any confidential information only privy to the members of his Chapter of marines. His honed senses telling him the individual was highly dangerous.

"We've encountered an entity that none of us can best in combat," Claude carefully explained, "The creature is highly intelligent, never attacking when disadvantaged. Always standing behind hordes of lesser bugs. What makes this opponent dangerous is his ability to judge the battlefield. The bastard is smarter than any beast we've encountered. Also we suspect the structure in the sky is somehow changing the planet's creatures."

"Let me ask you this, captain. How come you haven't charged their position and taken the structure from them? What about destroying it from the orbit?" his mellow voice echoed.

"High Lord strict orders. We keep this position and stay put." Claude said.

The man looked at him oddly, "Strange. I hope you have proof of his orders."

Claude went to his data chip and extracted the command from the High Lord.

Claude watched as the man's eyes widened, any other sign of emotion was devoid from his face, "Very well. Duly noted. Now, by the words of Her Majesty the Empress. I hereby order you to gather your troops and take that structure."

Claude stiffened, saluted "Yes sir." And went out the door barking orders as he was walking through the camp.

The plan was quickly set in motion. The Imperial navy would take care of the hordes of insects by sending their air support and burning the Swarm to a crisp.

The Space Marines entered a giant transport designed to breach and kind of wall. The force of impact would propel the heavy ram through anything. Even thick walls of dreadnaughts would torn asunder by the ram's astounding power.

Before they knew it the ram easily tore through the structure's walls and ended embedded deep in its insides.

One by one 40 brave marines emerged from the ram's insides.

"Brothers we're in." Claude spoke through his helmet.

As soon as he spoke those words a terrible scream echoed through the structure's halls.

"INTRUDERSSSSS,"

The scream sent shivers down their spines, "What is that?"

"PROTECT THE CONCIOUS ONES," another voice screeched.

From the top a creature appeared. Its teeth bared. The snarly grin warned anyone of their imminent fate. Before anyone could do or say anything a gun sounded. Then another; then 40 guns started firing. Their bullets tearing through the air. Killing the creature where it stood filling its body full of holes. Guts, green blood and entrails splashed all over the wall where it stood. Everything went eerily quiet for few moments. The insects no doubt in shock at what had happened.

The calm was quickly replaced by a shrill scream. A wail that tore through the halls. Then another. Then ten more. Then a long shrill of voices sounding as one. Soon after one by one they quieted down leaving several shrill voices.

"NO MERCY -- KILL -- KILL -- DEVOUR," several voices spoke in tandem.

Like a ripple they could hear similar words being repeated all around them. Finally, it started.

Tens of bugs started jumping at them. Swiping their long, razor sharp claws at marines. Eventually they would get one, scrape another.

The guns of the marines never stopped.

"By the Empress, you shall be PURGED." The marines repeated one by one.

Bolts of hot molten lead sprayed the monsters as they tried their best to kill the marines in front of them. Screeches and noises they made as they failed were echoing through its insides.

They advanced corridor by corridor. No matter what the monsters tried the marines never failed to take them down. Their trained hands finally doing what needed to be done. Not idling by some crate and waiting, but showing the enemy what they were made off.

Finally, they came at the large cavernous doors. Breaching them was no easy task as several insects fell in front of a large room. The two large guards tried to ambush the marines, seemingly bent to stopping them from taking another step further. The monsters seemed quite protective of the room so marines decided to breach the tightly closed room. One by one the 40 marines entered the room.

They realized they were in the room filled with eggs and rotten carcasses piled one atop another. The dead bodies of their brethren chewed, half eaten; others on verge of dying, begging to be put out of their misery.

Claude took the bolt gun to his hand, "In the name of our Empress I thank you for your service."

And thus he started killing the brothers that seemed too far gone to be saved. Only a lifetime of pain and regret would wait for them.

However, for the bugs he took a thermal grenade from his belt. He gripped it in his hand, armed it and threw it into the pile of eggs that were seemingly throbbing, getting ready to hatch.

He guided the marines back out and activated the explosive. A large explosion ensued, devastating everything in the room.

The explosion was massive and deafening. He felt it rumble through the structure as he leaned away from the entrance. Amidst the falling debris they thought they had heard something. A movement in the distance.

The 40 brave men entered the room and saw the carnage the explosive had made. The explosion blew a large portion of the wall. It was made of organic and inorganic material. A blend of technology that the more experienced men had never seen before.

Claude stepped over a burning insectoid corpse, "Seems like there is more to this room than we thought."

"Sir, we have incoming." The marine closest to the gaping hole yelled and assumed an attacking position.

The hole released a flood of new insectoids mad with fury. Screeching as they ran towards them.

The marines continued firing their rapidly dwindling ammo. Killing anything that stood before them.

The bugs showed them no mercy.

From time to time they would hear hissing around them, "You come to our feeding grounds..."

It seemed almost like hours that they spent firing in random direction at any creature that jumped at the chance to take them out.

The bugs were relentless in their advance. Some of the marines thought the bugs seemed enraged seeing their kind being torn in two by their ammunition.

Drooling with anticipation they scanned their prey. Now they would enact their vengeance.

One large creature moved from man to man, marine to marine, shredding them and their suits apart with its razor sharp claws. Its rage was immense, its thirst for blood endless. With each fallen brother the monster seemed to gain more and more power continuing on its warpath. By the time it came to the final 10 they were almost all out of ammo. Surrounded.

"SCUM. YOUR. FLESH. IS. MINE." The creature hissed its words.

Claude strained himself, "Think again monster," his voice echoed through the room.

He thought he couldn't stand. His arms and feet were shaking. Seeing so many Marines die around him and getting dragged away sent shivers down his spine.

"I. WILL. EAT. YOU."

He felt his hand move, expecting to see a gun he paused his breath when nothing appeared but a bleeding stump. Somewhere in the battle someone cut his hands off. He thought he still had his lazgun in his hands.

That was the last straw. Claude felt every bit of fear that he was trying to hold back. The marines seeing the man on the ground started to fire but in vain. Quickly they were overwhelmed and dragged screaming away in the tunnels.

Too proud to show fear, Claude asked, "What will you do to them?"

He felt the ground move beneath him as he was lifted off his feet, "YOU. DO. NOT. ASK. QUESTIONS."

"How are you talking?"

Right after he asked that question Claude's vision darkened.