Warzone: Borhelia - a mini-campaign on the planet Boreliah in the Esenie system!
-Has the inquisitor arrived yet?
The Traumatican colonel of the 113th Regiment couldn’t hide the contempt in his voice. The Inquisition was responsible for many wasted human lives and would gladly spend millions more if it suited their goal for the moment. General von Lipgloss had seen it several times. Too many times, actually. He was fed up with their recklessness and unsubtle approach when it was time to root out heretics. It was too blunt an instrument, just to sweep away everything before them, no matter if it was friend or foe. And there was no way to reason with them, he thought. If you did that, you were close to be accused for heresy. Von Lipgloss sighed and turned towards his aide.
-Yes, General. She’s here.., the aide started.
-"She’s"...?
Von Lipgloss raised an eye-brow. But suddenly realized that it was more because of his own reaction than that the inquisitor was a woman. He wondered why he had reacted so. Women were good, ruthless fighters that could easily outwit a man. Men, who relied too much on their strength and mere force. A typical mistake we men always do, he thought and then signed to the aide to continue.
-Uhmm, yes… Inquisitor Ripley has just arrived fromPoint 42, sir. She’s wounded but insists to be taken to the front line immediately. And sir… She’s brought a squad of Grey Knights with her, together with an army of Black Ravens!
General Von Lipgloss felt a great relief. The Grey Knights would be fantastic reinforcement, but also a force of Black Ravens… He then suddenly became nervous. Grey Knights, Black Ravens… even the Inquisition… what was going on?
-Send her in, Talon. I think we’re in for some serious business, Von Lipgloss said with a grin.
The aide slipped outside the door and left it open for the newly appointed Inquisitor Ripley. When she entered the room, Von Lipgloss suddenly felt small and without significance. Ripley strode forward in her white power armour, her short golden hair was perfect, apart from a curl of her hair, which hang down over her right eye. Deep brown eyes, almost black, and a pointy nose. She was beautiful, General Von Lipgloss thought. Even the scar which ran across her right chin was impressive. In fact, it made her look more beautiful, in a predatory way. He promised himself never to be this woman’s prey.
-Inquisitor! I hear you have brought Black Ravens and Grey Knights here. Surely the Tyranid infestation is more severe where you came from, at Helvunica…
-Tyranids? Oh, no, General Von Lipgloss… there is much more dangerous threats at work here at Esenie X. The Tyranids will be dealt with, don’t hesitate about that. No, general, there is more at stake. Have you heard about the lost archives of Gulibus Frekhofen?
Von Lipgloss was somewhat confused and shook his head.
-We, that’s Inquisitor Eisenhorn and me, have reason to believe that there is an extremely potent treasure hidden somewhere on Esenie X. The signs are obvious and cultists have been searching for them here on Esenie X for decades. Tell me, Von Lipgloss, haven’t you noticed anything unusual here lately. Anything… apart from the imminent threat of the Tyranids?
He searched his mind. There had been some incidents below the city, strange outbursts of violence in the sewers. He had thought it was nervousness before the Tyranid assault. When he came to think of it, some people, even in his own staff, had been edgy on a level that was hard to explain. He locked his gaze on the Inquisitor.
-You are right! There have been some extreme reactions. Tension among the ranks. Too much, too edgy, too… angry. Do you know what I mean, Inquisitor?
She nodded and raised an eyebrow. Von Lipgloss felt like she saw right through him, right into his soul.
-You are not to blame for not seeing this. The Tyranid threat has made you unaware of anything else and that can easily be understood. But, there are people in your staff that need to be handed in to the Inquisition. I have already ordered their imprisonment… in fact, as we speak now, the interrogators have been at work for some time now. So, Colonel. I think it’s time to plan for something completely different than mere xenos…
Ripley left the room, not waiting for him. He followed her, befuddled and eager to know more. But he knew the Inquisition too well… Ripley wouldn’t give away more than she wanted him to know. And, somehow, he found comfort in that thought.
***
This world would burn and die. After he got what he came for, it would certainly burn and die. There would be nothing left for the humans or the Tyranids to fight over, only death and despair. Lord Entragian felt something move on his right arm and lifted it to study it. Maggots crawled and ate from the flesh. Or, rather, what had been his flesh once. Thousands of years ago, when he still was a librarian in the service of the Emperor. He spat a phlegm on the floor, which oozed and slowly vaporized in stinking cloud. A librarian! He sort of missed the old days, walking around in the library, browsing the old, holy books. It was a joy to read, he remembered. It was still a joy, or rather an obsession, but now his aim was very different from then. He was close now, he could feel it. The visions had increased, the dreams had been more intense, his whole body knew he was close. It had to be here. Here on Esenie X. The forgotten archives. The prophecies. It just had to be here. He crushed a Nurgling as he sat down. On the table was his old Tarot deck. It still worked, twisted to his own needs, somehow in synchronization with his brain... and the great Father of Decay himself. It wasn’t possible really. The Tarot deck shouldn’t function under the influence of the ruinous powers. But it did. Entragian chuckled and suddenly laughed. Oh how the False Emperor’s lackeys would love to steal his Tarot deck, scrutinise it, exorcise it, soil it, destroy it! He screamed with joy now. They would try… if they only knew he had it! And the prophecies… they knew nothing. They had no idea! It could be the end of humankind, the Eldar… of everything but what he stood for; true freedom! Lord Entragian sighed and rose from the table. The search was on and first stop – Thermopylae!
***
Inquisitor Ripley studied the protocols from the interrogations. Not much to report. She read the protocols once more, but couldn't find anything useful. She sighed was about to put down the dataslate when she saw something. It was really nothing strange, but for one thing. The interrogator had been asking about the outbreak of violence at the garrison of Pantos. The mumblings from the officer that was put under … pressure had suddenly burst out that … here a word was omitted... was bigger, bigger than everything. Ripley had first thought that the officer had referred to the rebellion in general, or perhaps the Tyranid assault, but something made her think, something itched inside her head She looked at the read-out once more. The translator hadn't been able to figure out what the officer had said, and probably decided that it was not important. Ripley swore to herself. She would deal with the translator and the interrogator later. Now, she had to pull some favours to get clarity in what the officer had referred to. Maybe it was nothing, but maybe, just maybe, it was important. Ripley was known to find these insignificant spots, her hunch was famous. And something told her that this particular hunch was very, very important. She reached for her inter-vox...
***
-Hey, Dellas..?
-Uhm… what?
-If you were to rule the universe… what the frag would you do first?
Dellas sighed. Here we go again…
-Trianos, why do you always ask so fraggin’ much? I’m cold, wet and achin’ for a smoke, longing for my warm bunk… and I wouldn't mind a warm female there too... My bunk, Empeor's teeth... is the only fraggin’ thing I can call home these days… and I happen to have this fear, Emperor knows why, that I’ll get shot or cut open by those fuckin’ chaos troops over there. And here you are… askin’ me stupid questions… huh!
-Sorry, Dellas… sorry…
The wind blew straight through them. It was very cold and there was snow in the air. Dellas pulled his overcoat a bit more tightly. It didn’t help.
-But, Dellas… what would you do? I mean, if you were to rule the universe. Where the hell would you start? And with what? Dellas?
Dellas closed his eyes and started counting to ten. But he only got to three…
-I would start with rippin’ out yer tongue and stuff it down yer sorry throat, that’s what I would do first!
Dellas was suddenly very angry. The rage suddenly pulsed through him. He couldn’t stop it and, to his own surprise, he enjoyed it. He would really much enjoy cutting Trianos to pieces and eat those pieces raw. Then he would piss on the remains… Dellas was shocked by his own thoughts. He started a quick prayer to the Emperor just to ease himself down. Had he really just wanted to kill Trianos, his oldest friend, who had served with him in the Traumatican Guard for two years, who had shared everything with him? Dellas shivered. There was something evil at work here on Esenie. Then the explosions started and he had to concentrate on keeping his old friend alive… again.
***
-Lord Entragian! Oookh has moved in!
The servant saluted nervously before the Nurgle lord. Entragian slowly opened his only eye with difficulties. His other eye had popped against a skirmish with a Tyranid force but it didn’t matter, his ability to see things by using his senses had been improved. It was his 14th body after all and Father Nurgle bestowed him with small, enhancing, gifts whenever he lost his body and was reproduced in the “Vaults of Decay” on his battlecruiser. Lord Entragian had never understood why, but had accepted it and embraced it, even though it was a terrible experience to be reborn. Maybe it was some kind of twisted love? Love in a painful way, that is... Not that he felt pain, that sensation had ceased to mean anything to him hundreds of years ago, but the strange feeling of new limbs, competing with the feeling of the old ones, was disturbing and not very pleasant. Entragian chuckled; Pleasure! He had lost the true meaning of the word so long ago… He turned to the aide, still in a good mood.
-Moved in? Oookh? What do you… it suddenly hit Entragian that the insane sorcerer had moved into battle with the Imperial troops without waiting for the rest of the army. What was he up to? Oookh had no idea why they were here and he was usually trustworthy. Entragian felt the rage build within him. The foolish sorcerer was about to ruin all chances to find necessary clues here at Thermopylae, clues that could lead him to the lost archives. He had no option, but to order full speed ahead.
***
Oookh ran like crazy. It felt good to sprint instead of having to walk slowly in the closed areas of the battle cruiser. It reminded him of a kind of freedom he had lost so long ago. Then the incoming fire started and he had to slow down to pick his path. Before him a large building, probably a city hall once, now turned into dust, bricks and stones, hosted several of the hated humans. Guardsmen! He spat on the ground. The humans stood in the way and wouldn’t stand a chance when he got to them. And the prize… Little did that fool Entragian know about what was really hidden here at Thermopylae. Entragian, who searched for mere books! A wildgoose chase, Oookh thought. Entragian would spend the rest of his miserable life searching some books without value. Let him, Oookh thought as he dodged a krak missile, let him think that he is close. In fact, Entragian has never been farther away from his beloved books than he was now. Oookh felt the powers of the warp build up within him. It was not a wholly pleasant experience, but Oookh had been through so much, that the touch of the warp was a mere nuisance, nothing more. It usually started with a stinging sensation, deep in the spine. Then came the visions. Then the voices, cackling madly in a language forgotten eons ago. Oookh started to focus on the humans in front of him. They had to die… they all had to die! If not today, then tomorrow. They were doomed. Oookh let out a sigh and formed three small, black clouds. He wished the black clouds to explode among the humans and they sped forward. One cloud dissipated during its course, but the other two hit in the middle of the humans and they fell screaming. That was the signal for the Thousand Sons, who slowly advanced closely behind him. They lifted their bolters and opened fire and more humans fell. Oookh realized that this was a very important place. The humans guarded it, protected it. Too much. This place was significant and important and Oookh felt that he had to get to the ruined city hall… quickly! Suddenly explosions erupted all around him and the Thousand Sons. His personal guard of Plague Marines were also struck and some of them fell. Losing his focus for a moment, Oookh turned to his gaze to the right. A large force of black marines advanced, supported by a Land Raider. At the same time, the guardsmen in the ruins before him fired all they had in a co-ordinated volley. They were caught in a deadly crossfire!
***
Entragian clung to the Rhino. Before him he could see that damned fool Oookh taking fire from several directions. He cursed and spat. Oookh had sentenced a large portion of his army to death. Unsupported the Plague Marines fell. The Thousand Sons held though and soon the Berzerkers would reinforce the mess created by Oookh. Entragian sensed a glimmer of hope to save the day. He ordered the Rhino, full of Possessed marines, to lead the envelopment on the Imperial flank, which was quickly building up with tanks and Black Ravens. There was little time now, before the opportunity was lost.
***
Oookh panted. Things were not going to plan. There were too many marines. It convinced him that he was on to something, but things started to look desperate. He gestured to the Thousand Sons to take the brunt of the Black Raven assault and he started to concentrate on touching the warp once more. But there was no time. The Black Ravens were upon them and now he and the Thousand Sons had to fight for their lives. The Thousand Sons took the charge from the Black Ravens first. Chainswords whirred and pistols cracked. Oookh parried a blow from a marine with his forcesword and then shot his pistol in the side of the marine, who fell. The Thousand Sons fought bravely and managed to halt much of the Black Raven charge. Then Oookh saw a black figure in a wolf helmet. He knew instantly that it was the great Ulrikus Necator himself. A legend – a great Wolf Priest - was here! Now Oookh was convinced that Thermopylae was more important than it first looked and that Entragian had been right to attack here. He screamed and charged the famous Wolf Priest. Ulrikus took a defensive stance and waited for Oookh to take the initiative. Oookh took a mighty swing with his forcesword, but missed by an inch. In return, Ulrik brought his full force on the Chaos sorcerer whose skull cracked by the blow. Ookh felt life leaving his body as he fell. So, this was the end. Killed by a legend. Oookh felt strangely content with this and died before he hit the ground.
***
Kharak prayed to Khorne. His daemonsword was wild in his hands and he could hardly control it. It craved blood, and blood it will get, Kharak thought to himself. Then he saw that foolish and foul sorcerer of Nurgle fall by a black-clad figure. It was some kind of leader and it was dangerous. It had to die. Khrarak roared and set out for the marine with the wolf-helmet. The daemonsword almost jumped out of his hands, but Kharak managed to tighten his grip and swung it in a wide arc. Kharak was fast. Too fast for Ulrikus Necator, who barely realized that he was cut down. Kharak didn’t bother to finish off the mortally wounded Wolf Priest and moved on to cut down more marines.
***
Entragian watched the reserves of the Imperial Guard advance. Several large tanks were speeding forward. Soon they would have taken positions to blast away. He had seen Imperial tanks fire before and knew they were hard business. Then he suddenly felt two sensations at the same time; one was a psychic scream from Oookh. The fool was dying, Entragian thought. He had jeopardized the whole mission and probably ruined it by his rash attack on Thermopylae. He could die, it was no loss. But what was worse, Entragian thought, was that he was losing the battle. The other sensation was that stinging feeling when something emerged from the warp. Reinforcements at last! Daemons and Terminators stepped into reality, guns blazing. Entragian jumped of the slowing Rhino and thought of reinforcing the centre himself when the Rhino blew up behind him in huge ball of fire. The possessed marines crawled out of the wreck and got instantly hit by another plasmacannon, which engulfed them and sent them sprawling. Entragian thought himself blessed that he, just in time, jumped off the Rhino. He moved quickly away towards the Terminators and daemons who now tried to support the badly mauled Thousand Sons and Plague Marines in the centre. But the reinforcements halted and were scattered by the accurate fire from the Imperial Guard. Daemons were banished back to the warp and the Terminators fell one by one in a cannonade of las- and bolterfire. They were rapidly being surrounded, he thought. The Imperial Guard in Thermopylae wouldn’t retreat, they were dug in now. Imperial reinforcements were pouring in on both flanks… no, this battle couldn’t be won. They had to retreat. All because of that fool, Oookh...
***
-Is he alive? He can't be dead! He just can't!
The Black Raven Master trembled with fear and anger. Before him lay the legendary Ulrikus Necator, Wolf Priest. The apothecaries and medi-bots were working hard. The operation had been going on for seventeen hours and there was no sign of progress. The internal bleeding wouldn’t stop and there was something else, more sinister that had to be removed, something daemonic. Ulrikus, one of the greatest Wolf Priests ever. Wounded by a daemonweapon. Not once, but wounded several times. Just one wound would kill lesser men. It was a miracle that he was still breathing. The Black Raven Commander closed his eyes as he formed the next question.
-Now, tell me, Silva, will Ulrikus live?
The Black Raven Librarian waited a couple of seconds before he spoke;
-It's a close thing. But he's tough and he is in the care of the best apothecaries there are here on Esenie. The Black Templars are also praying for him. I think he will live.
-Good, good, Silva. I have faith in your judgment...
The commander opened his eyes.
-Yes, the Templars... where did they come from? And why? There are now three different chapters here on Esenie. Is there something we should know, Silva? Is there something bigger drawing us here? Something more sinister than Tyranids? More dangerous than the Chaos forces?
-Time will tell, commander, time will tell... Now, if you excuse me, sir. I must seek answers.
Librarian Silva turned from the commander and went to his quarters to question the Tarot cards. He had a bad feeling about all this...
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Written by Tony Melander (2010)