Operation Phoenix

+++ Inquisitorial High Court +++

Year: M.40 783

Location classified:Magenta Level

Court Judiciary:
Inquisitor Lord Hawkins (Ordo Xenos)
Inquisitor Lord Dahl (Ordo Heriticus)
Inquisitor Lord Satanial (Ordo Malleus)

Prosecution representatives

Judge Johan Deed and the Metropolitan Precinct Adeptus Arbites

Defence Protocols:
Adeptus Astra Telepathica
Inquisitorial Storm Troopers

Accused:
Cornelius Martello
(Formerly of the Ordo Xenos: declared Excomunicatus M.40 782 est?)

Thought for the day:
Heresy grows from obsession

Opening statement:

Inquisitor Lords introduced all parties for the benefit of the court and read the following charges against the accused:

• Practicing sorcery
• Making Deamonic pacts
• Unfounded manipulation of Imperial forces
• In sighting violence against Imperial agents
• Murder of Adeptus Arbites

Cornelius Martello pleaded guilty and begged for mercy.

Adeptus Arbites point of view:

Johan Deed = On M.40 782 my forces were investigating a local breach in imperial law removed: classified when it appeared that evidence was located on whereabouts of Cornelius Martello. Evidence was obtained through removed: classified. Cornelius Martello was discovered by Adeptus Arbites within 4 months of our investigation he was located on removed: classified where we discovered removed: classified many men lost.

The accused apologised and said that he only took necessary action.

Ordo point of view:

Ordo Xenos: I have faithfully served the Imperium for three hundred years where I have brought ruin to the Xeno taint within the Imperium and outside. I met Cornelius Martello removed: classified and trained him as my interrogator. Never have I met a more devout follower of the God-Emperor and I spoke in his defence when he was made Exommunicatus. I am deeply ashamed to be associated with Cornelius.

The accused begged Lord Hawkins to finish Operation Phoenix.

Ordo Heriticus: Approximately two years ago the Ordo came into the knowledge that several items seized by the order and kept under lock and key were stolen. Knowledge of the blasphemous items cannot be discussed in court but in short when Cornelius Martello was found some of these items were found on his person.

The accused said that he did what was necessary.

Ordo Malleus: Inquisitor name removed has dedicated his life to hunting an entity of the enemy name removed. After careful investigation and liaising with the Ordo Hereticus is was presumed that tainted items would be removed to summon entity. On M.40 782 Ordo Malleus discovered that Cornelius Martello removed: classified and was thus judge Exommunicatus.

The accused called the Ordo Malleus Hippocrates.

Defence:

Before any verdict can be given the High Court demanded for Cornelius Martello to explain his actions.

Cornelius Martello= I am what you say I am and for this I hate myself. I have done terrible things for the good of the Imperium removed: seen as heretical I only used these icons and pact to bring to fruition Operation Phoenix which I hoped to be a success.

Lord Hawkins requested for a verdict to be made.

Both Lord Dahl and Lord Satanial requested to hear about Operation Phoenix.

Cornelius Martello= Operation Phoenix was a mass mission set to capture/assassinate the Phoenix Lords of the Xeno race Eldar. With knowledge on said Phoenix Lords defence plans could be laid out against future Eldar attacks. Location of Phoenix Lords was located through heretical means and six squads of the Death Watch were dispatched. It is theorised there are more Phoenix Lords but their names are unknown.

Lord Hawkins= Is it also that you diverted Imperial Forces with some Phoenix Lords to help with your obsession, thus bringing ruin to over seven different systems.

Cornelius Martello confirmed accusation.

Lord Dahl= Let us begin with the top Phoenix Lord. Tell us of the mission to apprehend Asurmen.

The Deathwatch were arrayed alongside the loyal warriors of the Volpone. Huge squadrons of well equipped Storm Troopers moved up from trench to trench firing into their enemies who were fast moving agile things.

The Eldar were arrayed in white and green, they moved too agile and their armour seemed to cope with the las fire coming from the Imperial Guard. Yet against the Adeptus Astartes they had faltered in their battle.

A squad of five Deathwatch space marines clad in black with a silver arm moved from trench to trench firing at the hip. Each time they had done they had hit and Eldar warrior who exploded in sprays of blood. The speed and ferocity of the Space Marines was too great to deal with.

“These Volpone are big buggers”, yelled Brother Claudius of the Imperial Fists. He stepped forwards and fired his heavy bolter cutting down any Eldar that got in the way. “They would be the biggest space marines in the galaxy if they were inducted.”

“Still smaller then Catachans”, laughed Brother Dumar of the Nova Marines. He rolled past a hump of Volpone bodies and used their dead as a shield whilst he unloaded bolter rounds into the enemy.

The squad leader of the Deathwatch stepped forward; he was holding a flamer in his hand. He was from the Astral Claws chapter and he seemed the most pious Astartes that most of the Deathwatch had ever met before.

“Any sign of the target?”

It was at this moment that the squads Techmarine took a step forwards. He was from the Red Talons and his helmet was removed which showed a stern bald looking man with bionic eyes. His eyes whiled as they were locking in on targets across the battle field.

The rest of the squad turned to look for any sign of their target. In the distance all they saw was the Volpone counter charge. The Eldar had assaulted an Imperial Bunker emplacement which two regiments of the Volpone held. Their chimera’s had driven across the brown no mans land over trenches, razor wire and dug outs. Only for the Eldar to have brought most of the vehicles to ruin.

Now the battlefield was littered with bunkers and ruined tanks. The Volpone had a difficult mission of moving from trenches across a killing ground all the while desperate to get to the vehicles that offered the only protection they could get. These squadrons had been felled by the wall aimed shots of the Xenos who were now slowly pulling back.

The Volpone commander had declared victory but the Deathwatch knew well enough that the Eldar were forcing the Imperial Guard to charge them then they would bring them down in heavy fire power. It had worked so well, the Volpone were stubborn and still kept going.

“A squad of Dire Avengers are on the ridge”, Gallas the Techmarine gestured to a point in the distance. All the others saw were squadrons of the weaker guardians moving around the ridges getting good shots against the Volpone.

“But is the target with them?”

“I do not see him”, sighed the Techmarine. “But Inquisitor Martello said that he would likely be close to them so that’s our best bet.

The Deathwatch surged forwards weaving left and right and diving amongst the trenches to avoid the fire power from the Eldar. When they could they leapt up from their positions and ran behind a flaming wreckage of a Chimera. Every so often they would pop from around the corner and deliver careful shots against the enemy.

Brother Mellor from the Aurora chapter had lingered too long at one moment and a sniper shot ripped through his helmet and blasted his brains up the silver arm of Dumar who shook his head at Mellor’s idiocy.

After a few minutes of diving forwards like this the Deathwatch found themselves standing beside a large squadron of Volpone. They said they were Blue Bloods and the Astartes had disliked their arrogant tones. Despite that these skilled Guardsman had reached further and now they were pinned behind two Chimera’s

The Astartes towered over the Volpone and they stood ready and able with their weapons of war. The ridge that the Eldar was based on was just a few metres away but the fire power going against them was intense.

The Astral Claw had discarded his flamer and was now using a power sword ready for close combat. The rest of the squad looked at each other anxious to face an opponent that was legendary.

“He is there I see him”, declared Claudius.

“Brothers I want you to ready your grenades. I advise you to do the same Volpone. Once the explosions have gone off we will charge the hill.”

The Astartes all nodded in agreement, the Volpone were more hesitant but agreed likewise. The troopers Human and Space Marine prepared their grenades and timed them for a few seconds, then as one they threw them over the top of the chimeras and awaited the explosion.

Soon afterwards a blast went off and they gave charge all firing their weapons into wounded or shocked Eldar. Hell gun and bolters fired out in well aimed shots that brought the ruin of the Eldar wherever they stood and the force of Deathwatch and Volpone reformed the line at the base of the ridge.

Standing at the top of the ridge were a group of similar looking Eldar only they were in Blue and they had crests on their helmets. Standing amongst them was a taller Eldar in similar garb, he had a red helmet and his armour was luxuriously filled with gems. He had two tubular guns pointed at the enemy and a sword at his side.

Asurmen spoke no command to the Dire Avengers but they all unleashed their blade storm together. A hail of well aimed Shurikens fired down the ridge into the Volpone and Deathwatch. The Guardsmen were dead in seconds and the Astartes were soon alone in the fire power of the Xenos.

Brother Gallas was brought down by combined fire of three Dire Avengers, where as both Claudius and Dumar were taken out by Asurmen himself with good head shots. Once the firing had stopped the Astral Claw squad leader was left swaggering in his black armour whilst he leaked blood on the floor.

He looked like he was in a daze and he never saw Asurmen’s Dire Sword coming and his head was shortly departed from his shoulders.

+++ Inquisitorial high Court +++

Cornelius Martello= The mission did not go as planned.

Lord Dahl= That is an understatement. What of the Volpone regiments, do you know how high their casualties were?

Cornelius Martello made it clear he had little respect for the Volpone regiments.

The Inquisitor Lords agreed this a clear disregard to loyal warriors who valiantly server the God-Emperor.

Lord Satanial= It is clear that this mission was a massive failure and it was almost as bad as your fumbled attempt to capture the Phoenix Lord Fuegun in the midst of a full blown war between the Adeptus Mechanicum and the Craftworld Yme-Loc. Please tell us of this.

Great machines of death on a world of Ash, and pollution. The Adeptus Mechanicum had been his life he had been born and raised on a nearby forge world devoting his life to protecting the Mechanicum.

Herpestus was a loyal warrior, he was Skitarri. Clad in heavy red carapace armour he had been gene enhanced and technologically altered to be a better warrior. Within his body lay a complex cybernetic system that kept his body alive and calm. What was more he was linked to the machine spirits of his armour and hell-gun.

Standard Template Construct was all that had mattered to his honourable masters and he would ensure their survival through the blood of his enemies and his own strength. The STC was said to be located on this polluted world an STC that held the secrets of advanced water piping. This breakthrough could save billions of lives across the Imperium.

So the Mechanicum had come and they had died within minutes of landing. When the local forgeworlds sent their armies to investigate they were greeted by what could only be described as a Xeno equivalent to the Mechanicum.

Now this planet was filled with huge titans, there were Warlord’s, Reavers and Warhounds. Giant effigies to the Machine god that strode forwards firing powerful weapons that could blast apart cities. Underneath these behemoths were heavy tanks of untold power assisting their allies alongside thousands of Skitarri that marched with them too war.

Against them in orange and grey were the Eldar’s own versions, huge humanoid titans made from hard smooth armour they strode forwards with their own tanks that easily hovered above the ground. The manoeuvrability of these epic machines was so impressive and the Xenos despite being out numbered were beating the Mechanicum into submission.

Herpestus knew that the Tech Priests would never give up and would keep throwing more and more titans into the battle if they had too. Rumour had already spread that an Imperator was inbound and would be landing shortly, when it did then the tide would turn.

A huge Warlord further down the line exploded after being impacted by huge lance weaponry from the Eldar Titans. The explosion was like a small supernova, Herpestus knew that all Skitarri in that area would now be dead. He watched in dismay as the burning wreckage landed on top of the more agile Warhounds. One managed to move forwards quick enough to avoid its demise, whilst others were not so lucky.

To his right a charging column of Eldar tanks surged forwards firing into the tight groups of Baneblades and Shadow Sword tanks fighting beside at least a thousand Skitarri. The Xeno craft fired balls of purple light and when they impacted they cause what could only be explained as rifts in the warp. The result were chunks of tanks being ripped apart as they flood into the Imaterium, the screams of the Skitarri being pulled into the abyss could be heard from Herpestus own position.

The order came through and Herpestus sighed, he would have to advance. The entire Mechanicum was to advance forwards and try to push the initiative. They would have to march into a land of death through clouds of smoke and avoiding the molten slag pools that had formed from the weapons of the titans.

Herpestus moved forwards with his Skitarri brothers paying no heed to the dangerous death machines that were being destroyed on both sides of the battlefield. He gave a silent prayer to the Machine God that the technology of man would win out against the alien menace that had plagued this world.

He charged forwards and tried his best to penetrate the fog of death caused by burning machines. Even with advanced bionic eyes he could not penetrate far and he narrowly avoided a pool of lava, only for another squad of Skitarri to not be so lucky.

It was the most gruelling ten minutes of his life and long afterwards Herpestus would not be able to remember them, all he knew was he made it out of the smoke where as at least half of the Mechanicum forces did not.

Once he pushed forwards he had to quickly dive to the side as a stray rocket smashed into his position. Looking upwards he saw a Revear titan suffering a weapons failure, it was firing its rockets in all directions after a few moments it powered down and remained silent.

“Drop pod”, yelled a voice. Herpestus felt himself gazing to the location and he saw a black pod smash into the ground.

Once the pod opened up a knew machine marched forwards clad in black with a silver arm. It was a space marine Dreadnaught of that Herpestus was certain. The fabled part man part machines were legendary in their fights against the enemies of man. Gazing towards it he realised their was a device strapped to its back which blinked with lights.

Herpestus had been around technology his entire life and recognised a teleport homer when he saw one. With a flash of light that Herpestus’ bionics barely was able to compensate for did they enter. Four Astartes similarly colored as the Dreadnaught, they were in heavy armour of the Terminator elite.

Herpestus surged forwards with his follows in a bid to support the Space Marines, he was not sure why they were here but knew they could be a huge help to the war. The warriors seemed to be firing at an unknown ground enemy and Herpestus was anxious to see what.

Another burst of bright light came and Herpestus assumed it was a melta weapon. When his vision cleared he saw the Dreadnaught had lost its assault cannon and running towards it was a single Eldar.

The Eldar was surprisingly well built for its kind and it was arrayed in orange and red. Their were green scales that hung loosely from its belt and it held a long tubular cannon in one arm and an axe in the other. The axe was the most intriguing for it smoked with unseen heat almost as if it had just come from the Forge it had been made from.

The Eldar somersaulted towards the Dreadnaught and smashed its axe into the front armour of the Astartes sarcophagus. The Dreadnaught’s front armour was smashed apart from the blow and the force sent it falling to the ground whilst the Eldar nimbly landed on to the ruined Dreadnaught. Herpestus had never seen an Eldar use such power without the aid of a distance weapon.

The Terminators charged the warrior holding Thunder Hammers up high. They made battle cries and oaths of fealty whilst they engaged the Eldar. The Eldar gave them no heed whilst they charged and time seemed to slow for Herpestus as he watched the battle ensue.

Just before the first Terminator met the Eldar it dropped its tubular weapon and ducked the Thunder Hammer strike. It grabbed the marines other arm and twisted it round with such force and he then brought his axe into the chest of the Terminator slicing through with ease.

Another two Terminators met the Eldar and he dodged their blows easy before making return strikes that obliterated their armour and the occupants with one hit. The final Terminator fired his storm bolter wildly into the Eldar who rolled away from the shots and received a few impacts but its armour held.

It grabbed the tubular weapon and rose back up just as a Thunder Hammer strike came down, slicing upwards into the hammer. With a loud bang and a flash of light the axe tore threw the hammer and made the Terminator fall to the ground. As the Terminator turned its head he gazed upwards into the tubular weapon that unleashed its melta fire into the armour face of the Astartes.

+++ Inquisitorial high Court +++

Cornelius Martello= I never knew that Fuegun would do so much damage and in my defence the Mechanicum have won that war.

Lord Hawkins= Yes but at what cost how many titans did they loose. In the Imperium we can ill afford that amount of Imperial war machines to be lost on a single field of war.

At this moment the Inquisitor Lords brought forward evidence that showed that the Mechanicum received a message about the STC from an unknown source possibly Inquisitor Martello. Source of this evidence was removed: classified. Reports were given of the Mechanicum were still searching for the STC on the planet despite Inquisitorial advice that no such STC existed.

Lord Dahl= Now lets come to Baharroth explain your actions there.

Chase and speed, he loved the thrill of hunting his opponent and they had been chasing him for awhile. Three squads of the Eldar Swooping Hawks were dead and now only the Astartes were left.

The Deathwatch they were and it was their mission to slay the Xeno. Inquisitor Cornelius Martello had requested that this Eldar be taken a live and if that was not possible then to bring its body to the Inquisitor for examination.

Brother Sergeant Baldur strode forwards and every so often glided upwards on his jump pack eager to get to his enemy. He had once been an Emperor’s Hawk and was said to be the chapters most accomplished Veteran Assault warrior.

To his side was his fellow battle brother only from a different chapter. Caffa was a howling griffon and Baldur had been extremely proud to call him battle brother even if it was just for the short time in the Deathwatch.

The moved quickly over the grassy plains and this strange Eldar Exarch ran rings around them whilst they tried to pursue him. He was in dark grey Wraithbone armour and he had a jump pack that took the form of an impressive wing span and his helmet was shaped like a beak.

The Exarch had been firing las weaponry straight at the two Astartes in their black armour. Power armour kept them well defended but this Eldar’s aim was excellent and many shots found the gaps and weak points in their armour. Buldur had lost count the amount of wounds he had received in this chase. He was thankful that the Eldar had still not used its curved power sword yet.

“This hunt is boring me brother”, declared Caffa and Bulder felt that he had to agree.

They had been chasing the Exarch for so long that Bulder had come to believe that the Eldar was playing with them and he was not certain who was hunting who in this battle. That was when the plan had been hatched. One that would trap the Eldar.

Brother Atilla of the White Scars had circled his bike far away and was even now coming from the opposite direction. Where as brothers K’Sarl and Osaka from the Salamanders and Star Dragons were piled in on a Land Speeder that would get first shots with its heavy bolter on the Exarch.

“He comes again for another hit”, yelled Caffa. Both Bulder and Caffa narrowly dodged as their winged opponent came flying downwards firing las fire into their leg joints.

“Look it is our brothers”, laughed Bulder as he rolled across the grass.

Pincer from both sides came a land speeder and on the opposite side a space Marine bike. The Heavy bolter fired straight at the Exarch who barely had time to dodge the hail of bolter shots. Twisting nimbly in the air the Exarch flew straight towards the Land Speeder eager to get close.

“Is he charging?” Caffa was clearly dumbfounded as was Bulder.

Just before the Exarch nearly impacted onto the Land Speeder he soared upwards and Bulder was certain that he had seen the Exarch drop a small disk onto the vehicle. Watching in disbelief a jolt of electricity arched into the Land Speeder and its engines died, sending the vehicle flying towards the ground.

Either it was bad luck or perfect timing from the Exarch and the Land Speeder smashed straight into Atilla on his bike. In one swift movement three battle brothers were dead in a ball of fire and ruined land speeder.

Caffa was about to saw something but then he started coughing, Bulder turned to see his battle brother holding his neck joint. Blood was seeping out of it and was covering his hand and falling to the ground in little pools over the green grass.

Caffa fell down dead and the Exarch was standing behind him holding its curved sword that was bright with ruby droplets of Caffa’s blood. In pure rage Bulder charged forwards and the Exarch soared upwards.

Answering the challenge Bulder activated his own jump pack and dived upwards he forced his hand round the throat of the Exarch and squeezed. The Eldar gave no sign of discomfort as they both soared upwards through the sky.

“Die Exarch”, he said. In retaliation the Exarch flashed its sword into Bulder’s jump pack and despite his tight grip he was force to fall and he landed hard on the ground below.

Gazing upwards the Exarch flew downwards making another attack run. He fired his las weapon into the eye lenses of Bulder’s helmet which shattered and the hot las weaponry impacted into his eyes and brain.

Bulder collapsed fitting and was alive for a few seconds whilst the Exarch gazed down at him and spoke in accented low gothic. “Phoenix Lord is the correct term Mon-Keigh.”

+++ Inquisitorial high Court +++

Cornelius Martello= I sent them on their mission and heard nothing. My agents discovered their bodies later. There is no evidence that it was Baharoth who caused their deaths.

The Inquisitor’s felt that the evidence into who killed the five members of the Death Watch was irrelevant all that mattered was more lives were wasted through Cornelius Martello’s obsession.

Inquisitor Satanial= I recently spoke with an Astartes from the Blood Ravens about removed: classified where Jain Zar and her howling banshees had been killing Astartes and Imperial soldiers for weeks.

Inquisitor Dahl= It is fortunate that this time you did not have to manipulate Imperial forces, as a war was already going on. Never the less I will read the reports that Inquisitor Satanial gained from the Blood Ravens which explains the death of another five Deathwatch Astartes.

Claymore in hand, check. Bolt pistol ammo is out, check. Armour is not compromised, check. Everything was in place for me; you can call me Brother Douglas of the Storm Warders chapter.

My tale is the one of my death where I served my final days as an elite warrior for the Deathwatch hunting down vile aliens. I had dedicated my way to the sword, we all had that was why we had been picked.

We were the best swordsmen in the Deathwatch and we were said to be going up against a Xeno who was the greatest of the Eldar kin with a blade in her hand. I was joined with great brothers warriors like Haetor from the Black Templars, Castiel from the Disiples of Caliban, Roth from the Flesh Tearers and good old Delim from the Vopal Swords.

Under my orders I thought it was best to hold the citadel gates for in my assumption that was the most likely place for the target to come to. Thank the Emperor the Blood Ravens did not mind they are honourable men and like me their past is hidden from them.

That stood side beside on the walls alongside the Mordian regiments. I imagine them in their bright blue suits of honour. Their faith in the Emperor is so strong, yet they seem rather foolish to me. A little bit of armour would go a long way to save their lives in battles and those Xenos had easily carved through them.

I have battled the Eldar countless times in my life, sorry I lie I have battle them seventy eight times. I almost forget how perfect my memory is. Anyway I digress my battles with them have always led me to believe that despite their fickle nature they are not as weak at the Uplift Primer that the Imperial Guard read claims.

I have lost many battle brothers whilst fighting the Xenos and I did not know at that moment that I would lose another four. The Blood Ravens had reported a howling banshee like no other who had carved through Astartes and Mordian like they were nothing to her. She sounded like the target and so we waited.

Delim was the first to go, we was my closest friend. She had this throwing weapon that was like three scythes stuck together. We never even saw her and yet she had seen us and throne in into Delim’s chest killing him instantly.

When she came into view she was the most unlike Howling Banshee I have ever seen she had these like mirror shined plates of body armour and long black hair onto a mirrored Eldar face. Who know what she really looked like?

Roth and Haetor were the first to engage her and she dodge their blows so well. Roth had given into his fury and as always I had to watch my battle brother scream in blood lust, he often reminded me of Khorne Beserkers. She dodged so perfectly and in one moment she bent backwards just as Haetor fired a bolt pistol, Roth was not so lucky and ended up dead by his own battle brother.

She then sliced of Haetor’s arm and head under a single second using that really impress spear like sword thing she used. It was at that moment I knew I was going to die. She was skilled beyond skilled, but none the less, me and Castiel knew our duty.

I moved in close with my Claymore and Castiel had his lightning claws ready to gouge her apart. She gave out a horrible scream that caused my vision to blur and my ears to bleed but I still kept on going. I watched her to a hand stand over Delim’s body where she picked up her throwing weapon, by the time she was on her feet again she had already dug her throwing weapon into Castiel’s collar and she then thrust her blade into his chest.

I took no chances and dived on her from behind swinging my claymore. She was so agile and I have never seen an enemy duck and dodge my blows so much in my life which was quickly running out. She never even raised her weapon to strike except at the end which was quick and painless.

When I did fall I smiled that I had fought well and with the knowledge that I was the only one to parry her blade even if it had only been a single time.

+++ Inquisitorial high Court +++

A vague report was read from a Blood Raven Librarian who did not observe that much and from what could be seen the battle lasted a few seconds.

Cornelius Martello= Shooting was the way to go with Jain Zar I know that now.

Inquisitor Hawkings= It does not matter, another five Astartes were dead and a Phoenix Lord was still alive. Still you had sold your soul to only send warriors to there deaths. Lets not forget all the troubles with Karandras.

Sniffing was all that could be heard, the jungle was silent. The space wolf stood a little bit apart and they had all learnt that he resented being in a squad. His senses were keen though and they had come upon a few squadrons of Striking Scorpions.

Brother Odin like all the others was seconded to the deathwatch. What was more he was an expert at stealth and tracking. They all had been, for their was Brother Tillio from the Raven Guard first company, Brother Keimler of the Death Spectres, rumour had it that the Astartes had been trained by Captain Ludwick from his chapter. Some individual called Slav from the Silver Skulls and they were all led by Seargent Castellius from the Ultramarines and favoured pupil of a legend known as Tellion.

They were not in the usual power armour and other then Brother Odin the others had not worn the scout armour in years. They had to be as stealthy and mobile as possible for their enemy was suppose to be the greatest of all the Striking Scorpions and they wanted to take no chances. That was why they had adorned chameoline clocks, far more common in the guard but all options were to be explored.

“Anything brother?” They communicated in battle signals careful not too make a noise. Castellius had grown impatient just like all of his battle brothers and they had been in the jungle for months hunting shadows.

It had been difficult enough finding the Striking Scorpions but this master scorpion was impossible to find. The only thing was the jungle had grown so silent that it unnerved all the squad.

“Same as always Mr Codex, I smell nothing new”, signed Odin. Castellius shook his head, he was not the only Codex chapter present yet the Space Wolf kept on calling him Mr Codex.

“Where has Brother Slav gone?” Came the frantic signs of Keimler. The Albino had been the one who was standing beside the Silver Skull in the rear of the squad and yet there was clearly no sign of their fellow Astartes.

Odin started sniffing and walked silently through the jungle. They went over plants and pools weaving past over grown trees and ducking under hanging vines until they found him. He was face down in the mud and his neck had been snapped by a strong grasp, perhaps a powerfist.

“And you thought we had got them all”, snubbed Tillio in his battle signs. Odin ignored the remark. Clearly the Space Wolf was shocked that this had happened, for he had smelt no opponent and yet someone had still snuck up on brother Slav and killed him.

The Space Wolf suddenly howled in pain and rage. His face was a bloody ruin and it seemed some kind of dart had impacted onto his face. They scanned around them and a shadow could be seen moving backwards.

Both Tillio and Keimler charged off with their knives and bolt pistols in hot pursuit of their enemy. Castellius listened to the sounds of chainswords whilst he cleared the blood from his battle brother’s eyes. The wounds were starting to heal, but if an apothecary was not sought soon it could cause blindness.

“You should have gone with them Mr Codex”, he coughed.

“I never- wait I hear nothing again.” A tall green and gold warrior stepped out of the bush behind Castellius and smashed a golden powerfist into the Deathwatch warrior’s head caving his skull in.

Odin stood up and growled as he charged his opponent. The Striking Scorpion simply activated his Chainsword and swung it up into Odin’s grown and cut the space wolf in two pieces that fell to the ground.

Keimler came running back through covered in blood. Judging by his appearance it was not the Albino’s blood and clearly Tillio had died in battle to the Striking Scorpion.

Firing his bolt pistol he took well aimed shots that impacted onto his enemy. The warrior dived into the jungle and was no longer seen. Keimler stepped forwards keeping a careful look for his enemy, he could hear the Chainsword but it heard muffled and a great distance away.

Taking a step forward he felt a swipe slice down his back and he lashed out with his knife. The Eldar parried and ran back into the forest as blood fell to the ground. Keimler cursed the Eldar and he looked into the forest.

This time a strike hit him from his side into his left leg sending him to the ground in pain. He fired his bolt pistol as the Striking Scorpion jumped over him and once more ran into the forest.

He never heard him coming both times and the warrior was so quick and difficult to find.

After a few moments of agony Keimler stood up only to have a sting of what felt like hundreds of darts in pact onto his neck and felt his lungs start filling with his blood. Just as he turned he saw his enemy run out of the jungle and thrust the Chainsword into his gut. Keimler fell to the ground dead.

+++ Inquisitorial high Court +++

Cornelius Martello= The squad might still be alive out their. I have had no word from them since I dispatched them.

Inquisitor Satanial= Be realistic, it is clear to us that they are dead. All the while every trooper who thinks about out flanking the forces of Saim Han ends up dead the moment they entered that jungle.

A report was given showing how badly the war was going between the Imperium and the Craftworld of Saim Han. Casualties are high, which is attributed to Cornelius Martello for directing imperial forces onto a known maiden world where fierce battles with Saim Han have been fought before.

Inquisitor Hawkins= That leaves one more and if it was not for the Cadian Armada near at hand then this would be completely unknown. Yet you had already decided that you wanted Maugan Ra within your grasp.

The Eye of Terror was a realm of madness where worlds were torn apart and reassemble at the whim of mad gods and deamons. Staunch in the defence against this madness had always rested with Ulthwe.

The slow and stupid Mon-Keigh would never understand the sacrifices this Craftworld had made in the survival of the galaxy. They silently respected those Mon-Keigh close at hand around the Cadian Gate, they may be ignorant but they had opposed their treacherous kin for years and held them at the gate.

So Ulthwe had mustered not far from the gate and not far from their own home. They assembled to fight the Purge or so they had been called. Ulthwe only went to war when it was necessary and the Great Eldred Ulthran had forseen that the Purge would kill not only billions of Mon-Keigh but also would harm the Eldar which could not be allowed.

So great was the need for war that the infinity circuit and sung with the souls of those departed who could sense the time was near. The purple eyed Craftworld could feel it in their souls as well and so war had been launched.

In deep black forests of some unknown Mon-Keigh planet they had come to and they kept their presence hidden from the lesser species. When they had landed they had been greeted by none other the Maugan Ra and it was clear that the Dark Reapers had known that he would march to war with them on this day.

Did within the forest the Purge had taken an ancient device that the Mon-Keigh had forgotten how to use. This machine could crack open the planet and flood it with hot lava. The Purge cared not for these Chaos Worshippers had taken to devoting their existence to whipping out all life from the Galaxy.

Brave Ulthwe had engaged the fiends of chaos and battle had been long. The seer council was marshalled and those warriors in Black and Green could not see the strikes coming and all counter attacks were met with ambushes for they knew where they would strike.

On the eve of victory a strange twist of fate befell Ulthwe when warriors in Black and Silver came. Mon-Keigh loyal to the corpse seer stepped onto the world and cared not for their chaos brethren and charged Maugan Ra himself. Never have the Eldar been so puzzled for usually the Mon-Keigh’s hatred for their dark brothers is a hundred times stronger then that of our great species and our dark cousins.

On they battled again and gain they fell upon Maugan Ra and his Dark Reapers. It seemed endless yet the Reapers were slain in their valiant defence of their noble lord of death. A Mon-Keigh seer dived upon Maugan Ra and used the power of the warp to enter his head.

It was his doom for none should look into the mind of those so anointed by Khaela Mensha Khaine and we all heard the Mon-Keigh screaming. He was constantly saying one sentence ‘War is my Master, Death is my Mistress’ the words of Maugan Ra himself.

The Phoenix Lord himself easily rose and chopped down two of his enemies with simple swipes of his elegant Maugeater and he then fired upon the other two killing them in seconds. The Mon-Keigh seer was soon begging for Maugan Ra to end his suffering for a weak being like that could not endure it.

Maugan Ra granted the vermin with his death for the Dark Reaper is nothing if not merciful when it comes to putting down animals. The battle was one and we forced them off the planet and deep towards the Mon-Keigh empire. Destiny was changed and even though it resulted in the death of Billions of Mon-Keigh lives it is thankful that no one of any importance had to die.

+++ Inquisitorial high Court +++

Cornelius Martello= Had I not manipulated Imperial Forces then Cadia would never had known that the Purge were within the Imperium and they would not have beaten them.

Inquisitor Satanial= Very true but due to your diversion to get Asurmen the Purge found a hive world far from any form of defence and they virus bombed it and then mopped up what was left.

Inquisitor Hawkins= I am sure you hoped that Librarian Archimedes and the others died a quick death. But according to Cadian reports the Librarian’s face was contorted in severe pain.

Picture was shown made by Imperial Guardsmen showing Librarain Archimedes in what could be described as being tortured to death. The Inquisitors pointed out that Maugan Ra was not recovered and so more people died for little reason.

+++ Inquisitorial high Court +++

Verdict:

All three Inquisitors agreed that Cornelius Martello was guilty. He was executed the next day by burning.