Short Story 5th Company White Scars: The Hive PT I,II,III

[Khogin]

The Hive PT I

“It has been too long since my lungs have tasted the air of our world my Khan.”
“Yes it has Brother Andu, too long.” Replied Khogin Khan, the Captain of The White Scars 5th Company. Brother Andu, the Company Champion of 5th Company walked beside Khogin with his head tilted back taking long, slow deep breaths enjoying the Chogoris night air.
It had been 7 years since 5th Company had stood on Chogoris soil. Over the last 7 years 5th Company had hunted down a vial enemy of the Emperor, a Dark Eldar known as Gora-don. Khogin and Andu walked a few more yards passing a large statue of Jaghatai Khan holding his power lance above his head. Veteran Brothers Ogoden and Temu stood at the base of the statue talking amongst themselves as Khogin and Andu approached.
“My Khan.” Brother Temu said, greeting Khogin by making a fist over the Aquila on his chest.
“Temu, where is Cherbi and Gurin?” inquired Khogin.
“Veteran Brother Gurin is attending to his Apothecary duties transporting the progenoid organs of our fallen. Veteran Brother Cherbi awaits our arrival outside the monastery gates, our company banner never out of his sight.”
“Brother Cherbi has performed with great honor since Dagun fell.” Andu said solemnly remembering Cherbi’s predecessor as 5th Company’s standard bearer.
“Yes with great honor. He caught the banner mid-air with one hand and caught Dagun before he fell from the ledge with the other.” said Khogin.
“He could have pulled Dagun to safety if Dagun hadn’t insisted he let him go.” said Ogoden.
“If he hadn’t let Dagun go, I would be dead.” Khogin said sharply.
“My Khan I meant no...” Ogoden nodded respectfully.
Khogin Khan and his command squad walked towards the fortress monastery where the Rites of Howling ceremony would soon begin. This sacred ceremony, taking place every 25 years high in the Khum Karta mountains, was where Khogin Khan 5th Company Captain would finally be given the hunt he’d been waiting for. Apothecary Gurin caught up to Khogin and his entourage and fell into step with them.
“The gene-seed of the fallen has been secured brother.” Brother Gurin reported. Khogin didn’t reply and Gurin could tell by the look on Khogin’s face that a reply wouldn’t be coming.
Brother Cherbi stood at the large rockcrete doors of the Monastery holding the 5th company banner which whipped violently in the east to west wind.
“My Khan." said Cherbi saluting. Khogin returned the salute and then placed his hand on Brother Cherbi’s shoulder.
“Let’s go inside brothers, destiny awaits.”
The Rites of Howling ceremony was extremely long. The ceremony was filled with liturgies of battle, blessing over the hunts, hymns of vengeance and the reading of the names belonging to fallen White Scar Brothers. And then Khogin’s moment came. The Great Khan read aloud the names of adversaries that had managed to elude the White Scars all the while continuing to purge and devour everything in their destructive paths. The names where read with a tone of anger and hate, an Eldar Farseer, a Chaos Daemon an Ork Warboss, the list went on and on. And then The Great Khan stopped and looked Khogin in the eyes.
“The Tyranid Hive Fleet Typhous continues to devour the galaxy unchecked slaughtering billions everyday. Brother Captain Khogin of 5th Company you have been chosen to bring this tyranny to and end. You will bring the head of the hive mind back to Chogoris to be placed on the path to the Khum Karta Mountains facing the approach to the Monastery.”
“Aye my Khan, as the wind blows the blade rises.” replied Khogin in White Scar battle cant as he gave a deep bow..
“The hunt begins my Khan.” said Khogin.

[Khogin]

Part 2

The cave claw slithers towards the sun." said the voice in Khogin's comm-link.
The unique battle cant of the White Scars allowed the sons of Jhagati Khan to communicate with each other in a code that could only be deciphered by the recipeant.The cave claw, a mythical creature from Chogoran lore was a terrible and violent beast that had multiple spikes on its spine and razor sharp teeth, a very close comparison to the Tyranid horde that was closing in on the White Scar position.
A vast, dense, lush green jungle covered the entire planet. As far as the eye could see there was only trees and brush. A thousand kilometers away the capital city lay surrounded by poisonous plants and deadly wildlife.
"Report Brother Ogoden." Khogin said as Ogoden's red trimmed assault bike skidded to a halt beside him.
"My Khan, Sgt. Shirun is in position on the east flank and has split his squad just as you ordered.A portion of the xenos have split off of the main force and are heading his way."

Khogin listened intently to Oguden's report which was more of a formality than anything else because Khogin's assault bike was equipped with a tactical combat monitor. The Combat screen showed a topographical map of the rocky, lush green terrain including the position of all of the space marines in his company. The tactical read out was similar to the one inside of his helm, which currently hung off the back of his bike. The combat screen also showed the vital signs of each marine.
"What about Sgt. Baku? and Sgt. Nayaga?" Khogin Inquired.
Ogoden shifted awkwardly in the sattle of his bike.
"Go on, report." Khogin ordered, the frustration evident in his voice. Ogoden's hesitation obviously meant that
something had gone wrong.
"Forgiveness Captain, Sgt. Nayaga's squad is in position in the west however Sgt. Baku has moved ahead of the formation."
Khogin cursed profusely in Chogorian as he read his tactical map. In deed Sgt. Baku had moved his squad too close to Nayaga's therefore telegraphing their outflank manuvere.
"Sgt. Baku has much to learn Khogin, I fear he may not live to make such a mistake again." Storm Seer Usun stated.
Usun's voice had a metalic reverb to it. Years ago an Eldar fire Dragon had discharged a melta weapon point blank at Usun. Usun had narrowly avoided instant death but was horrifically burned by the immense melta heat. Apothecary Gurin had worked day and night trying to revive Usun who would need extensive bionic implants including half of his skull. Usun's blue robe that identified him as the company librariian blew frantically in the wind behind him.
"Perhaps I was wrong to give Baku command so early." Khogin replied the dissapointment evident in his voice.
" Sgt Baku!" Khogin ordered over the comm," fall back now and redploy your squad where you were ordered!"
The sons of Chogoris are prideful, skilled hunters who take pride in the use of their battle cant. By not using the cant when addressing Baku, Khogin's loss of faith in the young Sergeant was clear.
"The vox link replied with an explosion of static as Khogin's ear augmentics quickly adjusted to the increased volume as they filtered out the static.The static was replaced with the sound of dying space marines which made Khogin's blood boil. The tactical display on his bike showed nine green triangles that one by one started to flash red, indicating a fallen battle brother from Sgt Baku's squad.
********
(West flank)
Sgt.Nayaga watched as Sgt. Baku's bike squad was cut down by heavy Tyranid fire less than a kilometer away, there was nothing he could do except continue on with his personal objective.
"For the Khan and The Emperor!" Sgt. Nayaga yelled, his entire squad echoing the battle cry. Nayaga's bike squad raced up a rocky slope towards the advancing tyranids. The engines of the White Scar assault bikes roared as their rear tires hurled rocks and debris in all directions. Only the ceramite armour worn by each marine protected them from the razor sharp rocks the bikes were kicking back. Over hanging branches whipped off of the ceramite plating as the bikes raced on. The first group of Tyranid guants didn't stand a chance against the rapid fire bolters mounted on the bikes. The shells detonated in the xenos blowing out their internal organs.
"All bikes halt!." Nayaga ordered. The Tactical read out on his bike was similar to Khogin's showing the position of all the units in 5th company. However something was wrong, static interference of some kind was scrambling the display screen.
"Sgt. Nayaga status report." Khogin's voice came through the vox link.
"My Khan." Nayaga began, " Atmosperic interference appears to affecting my systems."
Suddenly the ground beside Nayaga began to rumble and split apart. The ground burst open as a Tyranid Trygon erupted out of the earth twenty feet from Nayaga's squad. The beast was two stories tall and its large talons sharp enough to slice a marine completely in two.
"White Scars forward!" Nayaga ordered his men, as nine assault bikes roared to life in reply. Their only hope was to out run the beast and there was no better vehicle than the Whites scars assault bikes with the exception of a speeder. They sped away from the beast as arcs of lightning materiallized from the trygon's mandibles. White hot lightning shot out towards the bike squad hitting two marines square in the back. The white scar bikers were knocked from their mounts crashing into the ground hard as their bikes continued for a short distance minus their riders. Their once white ceramite armour lined with red livery was now scorched black and the marines inside were nothing more than fleshy sludge. The beast fired again, this time the projectile was a mass of beatle like creatures that struck three more bikers and immediately started to consume the marines from the inside out. The marines fought to stay in control of their bikes while swatting at the insects but it was too late, eventually the riders were eaten alive by the xenos, all that remained was their white power armor. Nayaga and his 3 remaining troops rounded a corner at top speed, a speed that would have thrown any normal rider to their death however the sons of Chogoris were said to have been born in the saddle. Another unit of smaller tyranids were cut down as the bikes rounded the corner, the xenos didnt even have a chance to raise their weapons. The small xenos closed in trying to block Nayaga's squad however Nayaga veered hard right and launched his bike into the air right over the gaunts. Nayaga came to a skidding stop right infront of another monstrous creature who despite being hunched over was still remarkable in size. The beast screeched and belched naucious fumes as its belly opened up and a dozen more smaller xenos slipped out of its guts covered in a green slimy sack. The newly hatched beasts immediately stood up and charged towards Nayaga. Nayaga activated the switch on his power sword, and the blade came to life with a blue glow. the rest of Nayaga's squad caught up to him and came to a stop beside him. One battle brother whispered litergies of courage and another of strength as all the riders reved their engines. Some space marine chapters fight utilizing jump packs, and others prefer to be on foot or mounted in a tank as they crush the enemies of the Emperor. However,the 5th Company White Scars led by Khogin Khan were known to fight exclusively from their bikes, rarely while in combat did a 5th Company White Scar place both feet on the ground.
"I'll take the big one." Nayaga said sarcastically to his squad.
"Aye Sgt. for the Khan and the Emperor." the biker to his left replied.
Nayaga's squad reved their engines one last time and then raced their bikes head long into the enemy. Nayaga slashed with his power sword cutting the large beast across the legs. The beast was as slow it looked. It limbered trying to adjust its footing to react to Nayaga's speed. But what the beast lacked in speed it more than made up for in brute strength. The beast stepped back and roared in frustration as another dozen smaller beast came sliding out of its belly and immediately pursued Nayaga, jumping at his bike only to be cut down by his power sword. However,the numbers were not favoring the White Scars.

****************************************************
(East Flank)

"A little closer, a little closer." Sgt. Shirun said to himself as he watched a wave of tyranids advance on his position.
The horde was almost in range of the twin linked bolters mounted on his assault bikes.
"The crawler dawns the horizon." Sgt. Shirun said in battle cant over the comm. Upon deployment Sgt. Shirun had been ordered to split his squad in two parts to help draw the enemy away from the main battle force.The new squad consisted of a two man attack bike with a multimelta and 3 assault bikes. Shirun's half of the squad were all armed with mounted bolters. The tyranids that approached were different than the gun totting xenos that Sgt. Nayaga was facing on the east flank. These xenos didn't have any guns but were equally as dangerous. Each crawler that charged towards Shirun's squad had at least four to six arms,each appendich tipped with razor sharp claws the size of a space marine boltgun.
"Prepare to fire." Sgt. Shirun ordered into his comm-link while looking at the tactical display on his bike.
"For The Khan!" Sgt. Shirun Bellowed.
"For the Emperor!" his squad replied.
Shirun and his squad opened fire on the charging Tyranids. The mass reactive shells detonating within dozens of xenos at a time blowing them apart. Fleshy limbs flew everywhere, the dying tyranid front rank was trampled by the second and third wave of screeching, drooling xenos. Wave after wave of tyranids charged towards Sgt. Shirun's squad despite the White Scars killing them by dozens.
"Pull back 50 meters!" Sgt. Shirun ordered as he gunned his bike to life. The bike squad withdrew from their position while the other half of Shirun's squad provided cover fire.
"100 meters and closing Brother Sergeant." The space marine closest to Shirun reported as the squad let loose another volley of bolter fire killing a dozen more xenos.
"50 meters, Sergeant."
"30 meters, Brother Sergeant."
"Hold your position!" Shirun ordered as he activated his power sword, the outside of his blade glowing a vibrant, electric blue while the etched inscription on the blade glowed neon green. The power sword had been a gift from the Login Grimnar of the Space Wolf chapter after Shirun had displayed what Grimnar had
described as,"Worthy of a story."
"The stars return in the night." Shirun ordered in battle cant signalling his entire squad to regroup. 20 meters...
The closer the Tyranids got to the White Scars, the more their unquenchable need to consume increased. Sgt. Shirun's squad continued pouring bolter fire into the xenos horde however where one beast fell two more took its place. Raising his power sword above his head Shirun prepared to order his squad to charge into the tyranid horde.
"Sergeant look, the hunter stalks the plains!" a marine said in battle cant.
The roaring engines of Khogin Khan and his elite command squad on the ridge above could be heard over the screeching of hundreds of tyranid termaguants. Following closely behind was Storm Seer Usun who rode with Sgt. Kengi's bike squad. The pure white assault bikes of the command squad were trimmed in brilliant red and numerous purity seals flapped vigorously from each bike and rider. Approaching the edge of the ridge Khogin and the entire command squad skillfully throttled their bikes launching their bikes over the edge.Time appeared to be suspended as the six bikes hung dauntingly in the air, even the White Scar banner held by veteran brother Cherbi seemed to be completely still. The bikes came crashing down on top of the charging tyranids crushing the xenos to slimy pulp. Even before his rear tire made contact with an unfortunate xenos, Khogin's power sword had been drawn and he violently slicied at the tyranids below. Red elictric energies shot off in all directions as Storm Seer Usun projected his deadly pyschic energy into the Tyranid horde. The xenos hit by the psychic energy were instantly vaporized,their bodies turning to ash and blowing away in the hot west wind. Invigorated by the sight of the 5th Company White Scar banner Sgt. Shirun and his squad entered the melee, power sword swinging and bolt pistols spitting mass reactive death. The bloody close combat with the tyranids lasted only a few minutes as the combined squad efforts of Sgt. Shirun,Sgt.Kengi, Storm Seer Usun, Khogin and the command squad decimated the guants.
****************************************************
(West Flank)
The Tervigon had multiple slash and stab wounds caused by Sgt. Nayaga's power sword. The gashes had instantly cauterized the second that Nayaga's scorching hot power blade had broken the xenos skin. Like a true warrior of Chogoris, Sgt. Nayaga still sat proudly upon the saddle of his assault bike despite being seriously wounded by the beast. Nayaga's breathing was labouring, his first lung failing and his second lung slowly filling with blood.His power armor relentlessly pumped combat stimulators and pain inhibitors into his system as he clung to life. All members of Nayaga's squad had been killed, only Nayaga, clinging to his life and his handlebars remained.
"Sgt. Nayaga are you there?" came a voice over the comm-link.
"Aye Brother Sgt. Aguchu." Nayaga replied,"Barely, I soon return to fly with our ancestors."
"As the dawn breaks." Aguchu replied in battle cant saying that reinforcements were moments away.
The beast leaned back and roared as more smaller xenos were birthed from its gapping belly. Another bone chilling screech filled the air from behind the Tervigon as a beast known to the Astartes as a Trygon approached drawn to the smell of dying White Scar Space Marines. Angered by the sight of his dead brothers and the approaching Trygon, Nayaga said a prayer to the Emperor and gunned his engine racing towards the wounded Tervigon. Nayaga swiped his power sword left and right cutting down the smaller xenos in his path. Charging full tilt towards the beast in a deadly game of chicken Nayaga slammed into the Tervigon at full speed. The immense impact instantly obliterated his assault bike in a fantastic explosion that sent Nayaga hurling 30 meters away. Nayaga's broken body crashed to the ground where he lay motionless. At that very moment Sgt. Aguchu's bike squad arrived with their twin linked bolters and attack bike mounted multi melta singing in concert. The Tervigon, already wounded by Nayaga's bike attack, couldn't withstand the unrelenting barrage of fire from the White Scar bikers and died in a bloody heap.
****************************************************
(East Flank)
After decimating the Termaguants, Khogin and his command squad turned their attention towards the heart of the Tyranid horde.
"The shy monkey farts quietly." Khogin said in battle cant signalling Sgt. kengi's bike squad and Storm Seer Usun to attack from the left while Khogin and the command squad went up the middle with Sgt. Shirun's squad on the right flank. Sgt. Kengi activated his power sword as Usun once again summoned the powers of the warp and channeled it towards the oncoming horde. This time instead of bolts of lightning, Usun projected a gout of fire which washed over the xenos consuming them in holy fire. The bloody melee that ensued claimed the lives of another eight White Scar marines as Storm Seer Usun swung his power staff killing tyranids with every blow. Of the 9 riders that rode beside Usun only Sgt. Kenji remained alive, slumped over the handle bars of his bike. Usun protected Kenji's wounded body as he killed xenos by the handful as they lept upon Kenji's unconscious body. Blood lust consumed Usun, his hate for the xenos and the painful images of his dead battle brothers burning in his mind. Usun didn't even realize that the Tyranids were retreating as he blindly hacked and slashed at charred and mangled tyranid cadavers.
"Brother Usan!" Khogin yelled at the enraged storm seer as he reached out and grabbed Usun by the shoulder paldron spinning him around.
"Apologies my Khan, I will not lose discipline like that again." Usun stated as the red flames in his eyes flickered out revealing his white opaque pupils. Khogin squeezed Usun's shoulder in support, they both knew that Usun would lose his temper again and would spend weeks and months praying the litergies of sanctification.
"The xenos are heading underground, planetary scans show that the tunnels run underground into the heart of the city." Khogin said as he watched Apothecary Gurin attending to the wounded.
Khogin mounted his bike and activated the engine, "White Scars! We ride for Jugadeen!"
"For the Khan!For the Emperor!"

(End Chapter)


« Last Edit: Aug 1, 2012, 4:37am by khan » Link to Post - Back to Top Logged


khan
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Re: Jugadeen (prequel) thx Nicholls.
« Reply #1 on Aug 1, 2012, 55am »

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[Khogin]

Part 3

" Gurin reports that Nayaga has survived and will recover shortly from his injuries." Khogin said out loud after speaking at length with the Apothecary. Khogin promised that if possible he would return to get the bodies of all the fallen White Scars in order to provide them the appropriate burial ceremonies.
Khogin activated his comm link, "5th company, mission parameters are being uploaded to your helm systems. Scout Sgt. Jubai has informed me that the xenos have occupied the city and that they appear to be concentrated near an unknown sarcophagus."
1km away from the city Khogin had brought 5th company to a halt. Khogin surveyed images of Jugadeen city, which to him looked overly crammed with structures and monuments. tight alleyways opened up to large main streets big enough for two maybe three landraiders to sit side by side. However 5th Company didn't use armour in order to maximize the efficientcy of their lightning attacks therefore the size of the streets were of no concern. The grass growing inbetween the cobblestone roads had entirely covered the city floor. like a green blanket.The buildings were only skeletons of their former selves, decades of war had reduced most of the structures to utter rubble. In the main courtyard, an open space used for military ceremonies which could hold ten thousand soldiers, a statue of Lord Maximus stood holding his power sword. To the far east corner of the courtyard a landing pad surprisingly untouched by war stood 50 meters in the air on a massive scaffold. Khogin ascertained that the landing pad and the statue must have been built post war.
"The crawler flies." Scout Sgt. Jubai reported in cant. "Heavy currents." Jubai concluded his report.
Sgt. Jubai was 5th Company's Scout Bike squad leader. Sgt. Jubai and his five man bike squad sat hidden from view up high in a nearby hillside just outside the city undetected. From this vantage point Jubai could see the entire city and the view was disturbing. The Tyranids were organized chaos. Small clawed xenos scurried about while armed tyranids took up firing positions. Large beast like Tyranids like the one that killed Sgt. Baku and wounded Sgt Nayaga roamed about inbetween the smaller ones occassionally crushing the smaller tyranids if they
didnt get out of the way fast enough.
" Sgt. Jubai reports movement on the landing pad, the xenos have deployed heavy guns as overwatch.They know we're coming." Khogin said as he snapped on his battle helm, the tactical display within his helm flashing to life with various tactical stats and personel read outs.
*******************************
Sgt. Kengi's bike squad moved up the street cautiously the low idle of their bikes muffled by sound surpressors.
Kengi looked to his right where three, two-man attack bikes fitted with multi meltas were providing overwatch. The White Scars had entered the city on the far west side, Khogin hoping to keep his marines out of range of the Tyranid heavy guns that Sgt. Jubai had reported were on the Landing pad to the east.
Sgt. Kengi watched the tactical monitor on his bike noting Sgt. Shirun and Aguchu were moving paralell with his squad one block east. Storm Seer Usun had decided on riding with Sgt. Aguchu's bike squad. Usun hadn't cleared his mind yet of the fallen battle brothers from the previous battle in the mountains.Revenge burned in his hearts vowing to avenge them one xenos at a time. Sgt. Moti's bike squad quietly positioned themselves at the entrance to the main courtyard behind the statue of Lord Maximus. Moti's orders were to wait there until needed or to cover 5th Company's extraction of Jugadeen city. Only a few hundred meters away thousands of Tyranids scurried about around oblivious to their presence or too preoccupied to care.
*****************
"Contact!" Sgt.Kengi warned as a Tervigon stepped into the narrow street directly infront of his squad. Seconds later Sgt. Shirun on the opposite street reported contact as well.The Attack bikes to Kengi's right opened up with their multi meltas wounding the large beast as it lumbered towards them. The beast let out a painful roar as more than a dozen smaller xenos erupted from its belly. The aliens fell from beasts belly onto the cobblestone ground and immediately stood up and opened fire on Kenji's squad. Alien projectiles struck solid ceramite with no effect to the White Scars as they gunned their engines and raced at top speed towards the enemy. Another volley of melta fire from the three hidden attack bikes lanced overhead of Kengi's squad and struck the beast in the chest.The super heated energy burned a molten hot hole through the middle of the Tervigon dropping the beast in a steamy pile.Kenji activated his power sword as his squad crashed into the oncoming guants. The small xenos were outmatched in toughness and numbers as the White Scars cut through them with ease.
"Halt here" Sgt Kengi ordered, his power sword still dripping with purple alien blood as he peered around the next corner. His mind was suddenly filled with horrific images of daemons and warp spawn. His vision blurred as he slipped and fell from his mount momentarily losing consciousness. A pair of White Scars pulled him back from the corner and propped him up against the wall.
"Enemy psyker Sergeant Kengi, are you alright brother?"
Kengi's vision swam as he pulled himself to his feet angry with himself for carelessly exposing himself to the Zoanthrope's probing psychic powers. Kengi recited litergies of faith and protection as he mounted his bike and addressed his squad.
"Steel your minds brothers lest we fall to the taints of the warp."
************************************
Usun mind was struck with a sudden vision of pain, he immediately activated his comm-link to the company channel.
"The xenos have the ability to manipulate the powers of the warp, prepare your minds brothers."
Ahead of Usun, Sgt. Shirun's and Aguchu's squads had already began to open fire on the horde of tyranids swarming through the street towards them, the source of the psychic presence that attacked Kenji just out of the reach of Usun's psychic hood. The ruined city buildings that lined the streets of Jugadeen created a bottle neck as Sgt. Shirun's and Aguchu's squads continued to pour bolter fire into the oncoming xenos. Storm Seer Usun pulled up beside Shirun, "Sergeant prepare your men for combat" the metallic reverb in Usun's voice rattling like a loose exhaust pipe. The Storm Seer extended his hands towards the oncoming horde and his gauntlets were immediately consumed in white electricity that shot out from his hands and struck the Tyranids.
Numerous aliens simply vanished as they were hit with the psychic energy projected my Usun. "For the Khan, for the Emperor!" Twenty White Scar bikers yelled as they charged into the horde of termaguants. Bolt pistols barked, power swords swung and Tyranids fell. Sgt. Shirun yanked his power sword out of a xenos corpes and glanced towards Sgt. Aguchu. Aguchu was holding a termaguant by the neck choking the life out of it while its six legs slashed and stabbed at his helm and power armor using its razor sharp claws. Aguchu squeezed with all his super human strength and the termaguant's head simply popped off showering Aguchu's white armor in purple blood and viceral.
Shirun didn't care much for Aguchu's methods, the two White Scar Sergeants often coming near to blows during heated arguments. Something caught Shirun's attention as it flashed by to his right, like all experienced White Scars Shirun immediately brought his power sword to the guard position as three termaguants lept onto his bike, sharp claws thrashing and stabbing at him. Three bolts simultaneously detonated as the three xenos burst apart their purple insides exploding all over Shirun. Shirun looked again to his right and saw Sgt. Aguchu, the barrel of his bolt pistol still smoking.
"I missed brother." Aguchu said sarcastically, Shirun knew Aguchu was sneering under his helm. The source of the alien pyschic presence was now in range and Usun reached out with is mind to find the hidden foe.
"Show yourself!" Usun yelled his pupils burning with holy fire.
"There you are." Usun said quietly to himself as his enemy finally revealed itself. Lurking in the dust and shadows amongst the rubble of a building to Usun's left a mysterious shape appeared. The Zoanthropes head pulsing in blood red kenetic energy was twice the size of its coiled body which hovered a few inches from the ground. The Zoanthrope projected a warp blast towards the White Scars, the hurling ball of energy distorting the air around it as it propelled through the air. The Warp energy dispersed as it hit the invisible psychic shield emitted by Usun's psychic hood. The impact of the blast made Usun shudder briefly as his Epistolary skills were challenged by the psychic xenos. Another two warp blast shot out from the same vicinity but they weren't from the same xenos. Another two Zoanthropes presented themselves as they hovered menacingly, red psychic energy surrounding their bodies. Usun tried to block the blast but was only able to deflect the warp blasts in time as they struck nearby buildings reducing them to utter rubble. A Marine from Shirun's squad came over the comm link,"Sergeant Shirun, auspex are picking up interference similar to the type Sgt Nayaga reported before..."
Suddenly the earth shook violently almost knocking some of the White Scar bikers off their mounts. The tremors shook the already weakend structures causing rock and debris to rain down on the street below. The remaining xenos fled in all directions like rats leaving a sinking ship and Sgt. Shirun decided that this was probably a bad sign of things yet to come.
"White Scars! Roll out!" Shirun ordered as he gunned his engine and spun his bike around 180 degrees on a dime. The earth behind the speeding White Scars tore open as a Trygon emerged from the large crater. Usun, Sgt. Shirun and Aguchu`s squads sped down the grass covered cobblestone streets and took their first left leaving the Trygon behind. The three attack bikes that had made short work of the Tervigon earlier eased out of an alley and opened fire with their multi meltas. One melta blast hit the beast wounding it however the other two lanced wide. The Trygon retaliated by lashing out electric energies that seemed to materialize from it fanged mandibles. The energy struck the three attack bikes instantly killing all six White Scar marines and detonating the ammo on their bikes which exploded, showering the street in bike and body parts. Sgt. Kengi's squad raced down the alley towards the flaming attack bikes. Kengi could see Shirun and the other two bike squads through the flaming debris as they turned left at the intersection straight ahead. Kengi's bike squad crashed through the wreckage of their fallen brothers and raced across the street. Almost clear of the intersection warning runes lit up within Kengi's helm as his squad was hit by the energy weapon of the looming Trygon still stalking the main street. Four White Scars were thrown from their bikes dead before they hit the ground, their white ceramite armor steaming as the flesh of each marine boiled within his power armor. The last biker to clear the intersection fell as the psychic weapon used by the Zoanthropes vaporized the White Scar and his bike entirely.
*******************************************
Storm Seer Usun, Sgts Kengi, Shirun And Aguchu had cleared four city blocks until the appearance of the Trygon and Zoanthropes.
Usun halted the White Scars just outside the main courtyard as he surveyed the scene ahead. the Tyranids were everywhere, another Tervigon sat at the back of the courtyard birthing more smaller xenos while a large horde of guants advanced towards the main gates, where Usun and the three sgts.awaited for the signal from Khogin.
Usun activated the comm channel reserved for Khogin and himself,"The Gortak migrates." Usun said in cant stating that the Tyranids were moving south towards the main gate. The gortak, a large furry beast that migrates south during the summers on Chogoris are hunted by Chogoran youth as a right of passage into manhood within their tribes. The hides of the gortak are used for clothing while the tusks are beaded together and used as ceremonial jewellry.
"Understood." Khogin replied as he signalled for his command squad to ready up.
Usun addressed Sgt. Kengi," Sgt. Kengi, your squad is severely depleted however our brothers lives have not been lost in vain.Their deaths may work to our advantage."
I will lead Sgt. Shirun and Aguchu's squads into battle with the aliens. Once the Tyranids have engaged us you and your squad will advance directly to the sarcophagus and secure it."
Kengi's pride stung with the realization that despite his burning dedication to battle his squad wasn't combat effective due to the loss of five marines.
"Aye Seer." Kengi replied with a slight nod.
Jugadeen's two moons alpha and zeta hung silently in the evening sky as Usun and the 5th company White Scars eased out from behind the wall at the entrance of the court yard and came to a stop, assault bike engines idled in anticipation of the blood shed that was sure to be soon upon them. The White Scars were completely in the open lined up side by side as if to say, "Here we are come and get us." There was a brief moment where the two sides stared at each other sizing the other up, Astartes on one side Tyranids on the other. In a blink of an eye there was blood, lots and lots of blood. The Tyranids rushed towards the White Scars as The White Scar bikers raced towards the nids. With the exception of the the Tervigon at the rear of the courtyard every sharp clawed, screeching,drooling alien advanced towards the main gate. The exact moment Khogin was waiting for.
With the majority of the tyranids occupied at the front gate, the rear of the courtyard had been left virtually deserted. Khogin used the the tyranids lust for blood against them by drawing them away from their objective thereby isolating the rear tyranid defenders. The last remaining tervigon surrounded by dozens of freshly birthed gaunts rushed towards the command squad in a clash of steel and flesh. Over forty guants slammed into the command squad however the Astartes held their ground. Veteran Temu unloaded his bolt pistol into a guant's face while Veteran Oguden kicked a guant backwards and then slashed it in half with his power sword. Most impressively Veteran Cherbi while holding the 5th Company White Scar banner above his head, slashed three guants dead with his power sword his bike never loosing momentum or balance for even a second as he rode without his hands on the handle bars. Wave upon wave of tyranids lept at the White Scars who had formed a circle with their bikes and were repelling the aliens from all sides.
By now Sgt. Moti who had deployed behind the Statue of Lord Maximus before the fighting began, had joined the battle by first shooting down the Tyranid heavy guns perched on the landing pad. Everything was going so well.
Like a massive earthquake that seemed to originate from the center of the planet everything started shaking at once. The surrounding structures already compromised by decades of war fell flat crushing dozens of xenos, the earth suddenly opened up and two more Trygons erupted from the ground simultaneously.
More xenos stumbled and fell into the massive cracks in the earth caused by the emerging trygons. Sergeant Nayaga and his two remainig marines held their position at the main gate while the bloody battle unfolded infront of them, their warrior spirit raging within them longing to fight beside their brothers.
Suddenly Storm Seer Usun's voice filled Nayaga's thoughts, momentarily catching the White Scar sergeant off guard.
"Ride my brother." The Usun's psychic voice echoed and whispered in his consciousness. The skills of an Epistolary Storm Seer were well out of Nayaga's range of understanding and quite frankly Nayaga didn't care to understand how the Seer was communicating with him from across the battlefield.
"For the Khan, For the Emperor!" Nayaga intoned as he and his squad gunned their engines and raced towards the Tyranid sarcophagus swiping and slashing at tyranids as they raced across the courtyard.
***************************************
Khogin looked up from the entrenched melee that he and his command squad were engaged in. They had been killing guants,warriors and beasts alike for too long, his squad had to keep moving. The appearance of the two trygons confirmed the fact that it was time to push towards their objective, the sarcphagus.
"White Scars!" Khogin bellowed, "Disengage and ride!" as he finished killing a tyranid warrior by putting a mass reactive shell in its brain from 2 feet away. The command squad immediately disenged the horde and sped away in the confusion, the tyranids still clawing and scratching at each other unaware that the White Scars were no longer there.
"Come to me." A woman's voice whispered in Khogin's ear consuming his every conscious thought. Time slowed in Khogin's mind as it was filled with an image of a beautiful woman being held captive in a massive throne room. The woman lay on her back wearing blue rags that appeared as if they at one time were royal robes of some kind. The woman's long brunette hair went past her shoulders and her vivid green eyes pierced his very soul as she looked directly at him. The woman lay on a stone alter which had two hands sculpted in stone around it, made to look as if the hands were holding the alter and presenting it to some higher power. Khogin didn't get a sense that this vision was some vial xenos treachery because the vision gave him a sense of peace he had never known before. Hovering above the woman mere inches from her chest a brilliant blue orb flickered and pulsed as kenetic energies radiated from it.
"Come to me." She whispered to Khogin again as she reached out her hand towards him. Unaware that he had been plunged into a deep trance, Khogin let go of his right handle bar and reached out into thin air.
"My Khan!" Oguden's stern warning snapped Khogin out of his trance. Khogin had only a split second to avoid the tyranid guant as it lept down on his bike from out of nowhere. The guant slashed at his face, its razor sharp claws penetrating deep within his battle helm and tore the flesh on his face. Warning runes screamed in alarm as combat drugs in his power armor were immediated pumped into his body.Khogin fought to maintain control of his bike and pull the xenos off his helm. Finally Khogin yanked the beast off and threw it to the side where it was trampled by the front tire of brother Oguden.
Usun accessed Khogin's secured comm link,"Khogin what is it? I sensed a great mourning and great peace from you just now."
"We will discuss it later Seer." Khogin replied as he thumbed the trigger on his twin linked bolter killing a group of xenos in his path. The last few remaining tyranids that guarded the sarcophagus didn't stand a chance against the White Scar command squad as the bikes smashed through the debris of the building without slowing down. In moments Khogin and his squad had killed the tyranids and were securing the sarcophagus as Sgt. Nayaga and his two marines rolled up who immediately secured the surounding area. Storm Seer Usun came over the comm link,"Captain, our forces are holding but we will soon be overrun."
"Come to me." The woman's voice flooded Khogin's conscience.The peaceful tone in the woman's voice had left and a sense of urgency had replaced it.
"Open the tomb." Khogin said flatly.
"My Khan we should ride to assist our brothers!" Oguden said in protest and utter disbelief that Khogin would not ride to the aid of his fellow White Scars.
"Open it now!" Khogin shot back," Do not disobey my order again Oguden!"
It took veteran Oguden and the rest of the command squad to push the massive stone lid away from the entrance of the tomb. Dust exploded from the tomb as the pressure within the sarcophagus was released revealing a short stone stairwell leading down into the darkness. Oguden and the command squad stepped back, bolt pistols raised at the ready in case of treachery.
"Wait here." Khogin said as he stepped down into the darkness. As Khogin's eyes adjusted to the lack of light he noticed a series of tunnels leading away from the coffin room. Khogin stayed to right following the narrow passage cautiously, he didn't know how he knew which path to take but he was certain he was going the right way. A few meters up ahead the tunnel turned right and for the first time Khogin saw a flicker of light. Approaching the light Khogin entered a large coffin room and noticed that the light was coming from a small candle in the corner of the dusty room. The room was bare except the candle which stood in a small silver dish on the floor. The walls were solid stone, Khogin estimated they must be at least two feet thick. Khogin panned the room from left to right and then he saw it, a large stone table in the far right corner with the skeletal remains of a woman wearing blue rags. However Khogin didn't see a dry and brittle skeleton laying on the table, what Khogin saw was much, much different. To Khogin the body on the table was very much alive, the woman appeared to Khogin much the way she would have looked before her death. Her skin was rosey pink, her lips full and her brunette hair layed gracefully over her shoulders. She layed on her back with her hands resting on her belly. Khogin notice that the blue rags he had seen in his earlier vision was in fact a royal blue dress that accented her figure perfectly. Her head suddenly snapped towards Khogin to face him, her brilliant green eyes flashing at him peircing his soul,"Come to me."she whispered as she reached out her right hand towards the White Scar captain. Khogin cautiously approached the woman as she sat up and turned her body to face his.
"Friend or foe." She said as she reached out and took hold of his left guantlet with her left hand. The woman touched the bright gold Aquila on Khogin's power armor and her green eyes flashed so bright they illuminated the rest of her beautiful face.
"Have you seen the Aquila before?" Khogin asked taking a step backwards and slowly reached for his bolt pistol.
"Friend or Foe" The woman asked again pointing to the Aquila, her eyes never leaving his. Her gaze penetrated the blue tinted lenses on his helm and searched his soul for truth and lies.
"Is this is some sort of vial trickery witch? Why have you lured me into this place?" Khogin demanded.
The woman's expression suddenly turned sad,"They travel the night blocking the stars, they kill and consume and they will never stop. They will return, they always return."
"Do you mean the xenos outside?" Khogin inquired,"What do you know of them?"
"They return, They always return." The woman replied as she began to weep. Her tears were a brighter shade of green than her eyes, the color reminded him of the green blood from the khum karta scorpion. The tears flowed from her eyes and fell from her cheeks but as they fell they stopped, suspended in mid air and silently burst into brilliant tiny white sparkles that slowly vanished.
"How do I destroy the xenos?" Khogin pressed remembering that Usun and his men were fighting outside against two trygons and a horde of crawlers.
"There is no way, Khogin Khan captain of the children of Chogoris and ancestor of Jaghati Khan, They will always return here." The woman stood as she spoke and held out her hand. She opened her palm revealing a tiny blue orb hovering over her palm that pulsed and radiated electric blue energies. Khogin's power armor registered a drastic increase in temperature as the blue orb spun slowly over her palm.
"Come to me." the voice exploded into Khogin minds blocking out all other thoughts as he reached out and touched the tiny blue orb.
Time...
The air inside the tomb swirled violently blowing out the tiny candle. Khogin watched in horror as the woman revealed her true form, her frail and dry bones whipped across the room and exploded as they smashed against the wall. Outside of the sarcophagus a phenominom of unprecedence was occuring. Time had come to a complete stand still, the White Scar Marines and Tyranids paused in mid action. The air was still and there was complete silence. Bolter rounds hung in the air like floating marbles their mass reactive shells unable to detonate
Dying marines hung inches from the ground, frozen in time as they fell from their bikes. A bolter round that detonated in a guants head was frozen mid explosion the alien's brain matter and blood suspended like a thought bubble above its shoulders.
**************************
Storm Seer Usun couldn't move his body, but he was aware of his surroundings and thoughts."What vial magic is this?" Usun thought to himself as he looked at the two trygons suspended in time. Usun searched his senses reaching out with his mind as far as he could but whatever and wherever the source was it was out of his minds reach.
***********
The sound of rolling thunder crept over the horizon getting louder with every second. Suddenly the sky flashed red and a rolling wave of fire swept over the planet. Like a flaming sand storm the very air was consumed in fire that completely enveloped every corner of the planet. Usun expected the pain receptors in his power armor to start wailing as the fire washed over him and every living thing on the battle field. The wave of fire struck the trygons and they simply vanished, their atoms scattered and scorched in the wave of flames. Like wise the other tyranids in the courtyard suffered the same fate as they too were reduced to burning atoms and blown away. However to Usun's surprise the White Scars remained unharmed. As fast as the wave of fire had appeared, it was gone in a blink of an eye taking every tyranid with it.Time instantly resumed, the dying marines fell hard to the ground dead,their bikes skidding off and exploding as they crashed, the hanging bolter rounds intended for the now absent xenos,lanced off into the distance exploding dozens of meters away as they struck trees and buildings. Usun looked around at the now empty battle field, the hundreds of xenos cadavers had disappeared, the courtyard was empty except for the surviving Marines who were checking on their fallen brothers. Usun also noted that not a single blade of grass had been affected by the fire.
Usun activated his commlink,"Khogin are you there? Captain?"
"Aye Seer." Khogin replied a moment later as he emerged from the empty tomb and mounted his assault bike. Khogin activated the engine's ignite switch and his bike roared to life. Khogin removed his battle helm and his top knot caught the cool wind like a sail. Five other engines roared to life as Khogin's command squad pulled up beside him.
Oguden looked over at Khogin,"Your orders my Khan?"
In reply Khogin gunned his engines and raced off shouting to the command squad,"White Scars we ride!"
****************************************************
Later Khogin and Usun sat on their bikes talking amongst themselves. A hundred meters away the rest of 5th Company prepared for the thunderhawks to extract them and return the White Scars to the orbiting Altimus.
"They will return to consume this planet Seer." Khogin said as he looked out into the evening sky, the sky was scarred red from the fire storm that had consumed the planet earlier and swept the tyranids into oblivion. Red lightning silently sprawled across the sky but there was no thunder.
"This planet holds dark mysteries Khogin, This planet is alive. I can not explain it." Usun replied.
"Alive?" Khogin inquired.
"Yes somehow it is self aware." Usun stated.
"And what of my vision? The woman and the blue orb and her question of friend or foe? She appeared to trust the Aquila on my armor." Khogin asked Usun even though he knew the Storm Seer had no answers that would satisfy him.
"All I know Captain , is that many more Imperial forces will fight and die here everytime the Tyranids return to this place." Usun replied.
"This planet is a symbol of our times." Khogin stated
"How so?"replied Usun with a puzzled look on his half metal face.
"This planet only knows war. There is no peace here."

[Khogin]

The End
comments and critics are welcome.
Humbly, thanks for reading.