Crucible

Skarvald sat in his seat, checking and double checking his bolter, saying a quiet prayer to it’s machine spirit as he did so. He continued to do so until the crackle of static echoed through the cabin of the Rhino, only to be broken by the sound of Ferrus booming in it’s place.

“Wolves, we are near the Dorviaus Rift. You all have your orders, you know what you have to do. Don’t deviate from the plan. We shall destroy the Xenos threat here and now.”

A cacophony of cheers and roars replaced the static as Skarvald turned to the viewscreen. Punching in a series of commands, the viewscreen flashed to life, displaying a barren grey landscape, characterised by a few gaping chasms in the ground and abandoned mining buildings. No sign of Necrons or anything  Skarvald thought, he felt uneasy, following their run in with the Dark Angels many of the wolves had become unsure of Ferrus’ leadership. Quiet murmurs had reached the ears of Tor, who had in turn quashed them and gained something of a quiet following in doing so. This also made Skarvald somewhat wary, but I am a warrior, these thoughts have no place, not in the time of battle. Looking to his brothers in the rhino he silenced these thoughts, turning to the viewscreen once more, the satisfying click of the bolter’s hammer silencing his thoughts, he smiled, once more into battle.

Tor looked across the battlefield, Ferrus and the Thunderwolves were taking their position between two mining buildings, just short of the garish open space, pocked by the many chasms, to their left the rhinos were parked up behind a building, their engines barely making any noise in an effort to maintain an element of surprise. The third Grey Hunter squad and Jaegor held down the right flank, the Grey Hunters taking up positions in one of the derelict mining buildings, with Jaegor stood a few hundred metres away with his wolf companions. Tor felt an odd energy pulsing through the air, it was close. The thing that it sought was close at hand now, soon it would be in it’s possession and the end game could begin. Casting his eye back over the Long Fangs he noticed Lief giving him an odd look, before Lief turned away. He suspects, he may need to be removed. Tor shook his head, the gift of channelling the runes had taken a greater toll of him recently, though he’d become more open to these occurrences, he knew it went against every oath he had made since joining the ranks of the Space Wolves, but a part of him wished to give in to the soft whispers in the back of his mind. Noticing Lief once more glancing over to him he silenced his thoughts, now is not the time, but accidents can happen.

Ferrus cast steady eye over his forces, everything was set, all that was left was to wait. Suddenly Ferrus’ vox link crackled to life and a familiar voice spoke.

“Ferrus, you hearing this?”

“Garrus? Have you completed the scans as requested?” A brief pause followed.

“Aye, they’re done and there’s some inconsistencies.” Ferrus’ face crumpled in slight confusion.

“What do you mean exactly?”

“Well firstly, I’m registering no Necron energy signatures at the rift, in fact no signatures within several hundred miles of your location, there is something heading your way and at some speed.” Ferrus signalled to the Thunderwolves who in turn readied their weapons. “There’s more, we recently noted a warp signature entering the system, we’ve been tracking them, but we lost them due to interference we haven’t pinned down.” The link died for a few seconds, before crackling back to life. “Ferrus you’ve got several inbound objects… can’t get a lock on them, they’ll be on you in a matter of hours.” As Garrus uttered the words several explosions pounded the ground near the Long Fangs as several bolts impacted on the outer walls of the building they occupied. On the horizon Ferrus could make out several black box shapes kicking up clouds in their wake, before Ferrus could make out anything more he found himself being thrown by the sudden movement of Tyr leaping out of the way of a Lascannon blast. Ferrus flicked his vox on as Tyr dodged a second shot, linking to Lief.

“Lief, we could use some covering fire.

Lief peered out of the window eying up the vehicles charging towards the wolves’ lines, before ducking back to avoid a rapid barrage of sniper fire.

“I hear you Ferrus, just got a little lead problem ourselves.” Chuckling softly at Ferrus’ gruff response. “We’ll do what we can.” Turning back to the window he peered to the far left of the battlefield, noticing a large cannon deployed upon the roof of a drilling platform. Turning to Tor and a pair of Long Fangs he pointed it out to them. “I  need you to take out that cannon.” The Long Fangs nodded and moved to better vantage points, Lief looked to Tor. “Time to bring the lightning brother.” Tor smiled nodding slightly, his eyes turning an electric blue as electricity crackled up and down the length of his staff before leaping from Tor’s outstretched hand, racing towards the cannon. The rockets impacted into the building, showering the cannon and it’s operator in debris, however the lightning struck the Cannon, doing very little from what Lief could make out, but not many could withstand Tor’s lightning unscathed. Turning his attention to the nearest black vehicle he watched as two lascannon shots lanced towards it, the first falling just shy of the front of the vehicle, the second blasting the hull mounted weapon, the main cannon letting loose a cloud of black smoke as the two guns either side glowed green before firing in response. Lief squinted slightly attempting to make out the symbol emblazoned on the side door, noting the cog motif with a skull inside, he linked his vox to Ferrus. “Ferrus, we need to make contact with the enemy commander, unless I’m mistaken, we’re not fighting Chaos, we’re fighting the Iron Hands legion.”

Ferrus received the communication, for a moment he did not know whether or not to believe it. Turning to his wolf guard he sought their advice, for the most part they could not believe the information. It was only when Berek spoke up that a consensus was met.

“We should fight to their commander and if he is as Lief suggests an Iron Hand there is a chance that we can resolve this madness.” Ferrus nodded, linking his vox to the rest of the company.

“Grey Hunters, hold your position, we need to hold this ground. Long Fangs, disabling shots where possible, take out their weapons. Jaegor, you run distraction make as much noise and do what damage you can, but if you find their commander I want him alive.” Turning to the wolf guard he clicked the vox off. “You’re all with me, we’re going to hit the enemy with our full ferocity, let us show them the fury of Russ’s legion.”

Having heard the vox Jaegor ran towards the enemy lines, his wolf companions running just in front of him. A barrage of bolter fire greeted them as they ran, mostly either bouncing off Jaegor’s armour and shield or simply missing all together. Jaegor roared as he leapt over a chasm and using the momentum from his jump launched into the nearest rhino, the wolves close behind. The lead wolf bounded off the front plate ripping the vehicle’s storm bolter in it’s jaws, the other ripped some plating with it’s claws, Jaegor grinned as he plunged his chain fist into the rhino’s hull bringing the vehicle to a shuddering halt. At the back of the vehicle there was a large bang, followed by several thunderous noises that Jaegor could only assume were footfalls. Climbing atop of the wreckage of the rhino he came face to face with a large amount of black armoured space marines as well as three black vehicles which Jaegor recognised as a rhino, razorback and a vindicator. Clicking his vox link to Ferrus, he yelled.

“Vindicator!”

Ferrus clicked an acknowledgement just as a shell from the vindicator landed just in front of Berek, causing his wolf to fall to one side with a bone crunching snap. The remainder of the squad smashed into the middle of a bike squad, tearing through them with ease as tooth, claw, chain sword and frost axe sliced through bike and armour with ease. Bringing Tyr about, Ferrus turned to face the swathes of black power armoured figures who in turn opened fire with bolters, plasma guns and melta guns. At first their armour held and shells harmlessly bounced away however the tide of bolts combined with the plasma bolts burning through the wolves’ armour slowly whittled down the wolves’ numbers until only Ferrus remained.

“Come out and face me!” He yelled. “If you are a true  warrior, come out and face me!” His response came in the sound of many bolter hammers clicking as fresh magazines were inserted.

Skarvald ordered his squad from their rhino, running towards the third grey hunter’s position. Several sniper bolts struck at them from across the battlefield, a few of the squad fell as some of the bolts found their mark. Skarvald leapt for cover as more explosions and shells impacted not far from their position. Peering from the outcrop he had crouched behind he saw a small black boxy looking vehicle flying overhead. Once more it unleashed a volley in their direction, in response Skarvald’s squad once again hunkered down waiting till the flyer zoomed overhead, slowing and turning as it took aim at the building the third grey hunter squad currently had taken refuge in. Skarvald stood firing wildly at the flyer, but made no noticeable impact, as it opened fire into the building.

Jaegor watched as the flood of black armoured figures forced their way across the battlefield, straight towards the third grey hunters’ position. In his fury he smashed the vindicator open with a swift slash from his chainfist, knocking a few marines close by off their feet with the explosion, he then turned his attention to the nearby razorback. As soon as he did two lascannon shots pierced the cloud of smoke, striking the vehicle with full force. The rear hatch slammed to the floor and several marines piled out, one with a cloak and some ornate decoration upon his armour. Jaegor growled, the enemy commander, that must be him. He charged toward the wrecked razorback, only to stop when he noticed three large blocks that he recognised to be thunderhawks, except they were neither red nor black. Suddenly the battlefield fell silent bar a forth thunderhawk roaring into position overhead, followed by a loud vox cast.

“"THIS IS EGIL IRON-WOLF, WOLF LORD OF THE SPACE WOLVES. IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THIS PLANET IS UNDER XENOS THREAT. CEASE ALL COMBAT NOW, OR FACE THE WRATH OF THE SONS OF RUSS"