Fire rained across the heavens, coloring the night landscape in dappled hues of amber and red. The horizon was a blazing inferno and Debin knew better than to look at the light. No doubt the remaining elements of the titan legion were being destroyed. He would have to live with some degree of uncertainty. He could scares afford to have his night vision ruined by confirming what his gut was telling him. The field surrounding his trench was littered with the rotting corpses of hundreds of xenos and guard alike. It had been several days since the initial xeno push and his battalion had managed to hold. The attacks had been incessant.
Wave after wave of twisted abominations had been pouring over the ruined fortifications tearing guardsmen to pieces. He shivered with the remembrance of hisses and shrieks, the terrible cries of the beasts goading them into battle. He could still smell the acrid toxic fluid that seemed to permeate everything around him. It burned his tired eyes and made his fingers feel gritty. Having been an apprentice to an apothecary in his now far distant village, he knew that the gritty feeling was the result of a mild acid. ‘Acid’ he mused. As though he had found himself in the belly of some great ravenous beast and he was doomed to die knowing that he was being dissolved slowly.
The priests had claimed that it was heresy to suggest that the planet was being digested. That was before the first of them was devoured by a swarm of small ravenous beasts. Debin recalled watching the man curse the creatures in the name of the emperor even as they devoured him live. Debin delay bringing his flamer to bear only until the man had finished the emperors prayer, at least that is what he told himself while the man screamed and gurgled unintelligibly. “Heresy” he murmured with only the slightest mockery as he torched the still screaming priest.
The last priest had died just that morning during what was increasingly being referred to as a raid. The beasts were far from mindless they seemed to move as one flocking in unison attacking sergeants or anyone that had stepped forward to lead the men. With each successive attack the men seemed to fight with less zeal. It was as if the creatures could sense the force of will in a man and they hungered for it. Whatever the monsters plan it seemed to be working. Debin chided himself for such heretical thoughts. Emperor only knew the sick and twisted thoughts of these xeno creatures. Even trying to divine the depths of their insidiousness ran the risk of a moral threat.
The sound of reactors cooking off in the distance announced the last titans demise. He knew that there would be little need for night vision now that their last defense had fallen. Debin pushed the thoughts of the xenos motivations out of his mind and drew up his flamer as he peered over the lip of the trench. Against the shimmering sea of fire that was the remains of the once mighty titans Debin could make out what appeared to be a shifting horizon. It was only a few moments after that he heard that terrible sound again. It was the sound of thousands of impossibly hard chitinous plates brushing against one another, punctuated by the shrill hiss and cry of their masters driving them forth. He tried to flip the pilot actuator on his flamer but it was as though something had made his hands slick, almost like his finger prints had been worn away.
“We are in the belly of the beast already, and he is devouring us” he wanted to shout, but he just kept flipping the actuator instead. Finally almost absently the primer flared blue flame. “Emperor preserve us” He heard himself whisper.

Wow that was awesum!!

White hot liquid death poured from the nozzle of his flamer. Debin fanned the flamer in smooth broad strokes carefully picking out the thickest clusters of xenos. ‘remember your training and you will die in his service’ he smiled despite himself at the thought of dieing for the golden throne. Creatures loomed out of the flames chitinous armor blackened and flesh swelling to near bursting from the heat. Las fire picked off most of those that survive the heavy weapons. It was those that made it through that were causing his line to break again and again. Few were bold enough to step forward and lead but none wanted to die. So leadership seemed to shift from squad leader to squad leader like a live grenade. No one wanted to be caught holding the thing when it blew. Debin tried not to look across the field at the supply train that was being destroyed. He tried not to see the huge beast that turned aside the chimera like a child kicking over a toy. Debin could see the bodies of men being flung into the air as the beast raged amid them.

Debin heard it before he saw it. A smoldering beast bounding across the steaming mud, slammed into his gut hurling him into the air. His flamer swung wide and instinctively he released the grip. He had seen flamers turned against their own men when a dying gaurdsman failed to do his duty and release the weapon. The ground came up with amazing speed. His breath was forced out of him in a single ragged jolt. Debin rolled onto his hands and knees eyes wide. He struggled for breath gasping trying to force his lungs to expand again. Debin could hear the wet slap and stomp of the beast closing in on him. Frantically he fumbled for his flamer. The pilot was out chocked with mud. He had not time to think. He pulled his combat knife free from his belt. The colt steel flashed in the fire light. The beast was upon him before he could bring the blade between them. The first scythe punched down into his chest plate and hung there. The creature wrenched its scythe free and lunged at his face. Bright white drool soaked teeth filled Debins vision. Without thought he brought his combat knife up in a sharp arc. The Knife sank home with a heavy wet thump. The blade had pushed the tyranids mouth closed and was now protruding from the top of his charred carapace.

It thrashed about futilely to free the blade from its head with scythe like talons. His attack had bought precious seconds. Debin lunged for a las rifle that still lay in the death grip of a severed arm. He pried the weapon free just as the beast abandoned its struggle with the blade. It shook its head violently from left to right and let out a primal hiss from between clenched teeth before lunging at him with blades extended. Debin prayed to the emperor that the cell had charge, that the lense was not dirty, and that his aim was true. The emperor blessed him as the coherent beam of light punched a clean hole through the beasts head. It flopped to the ground twitching and spasming. Debin looked around frantically for the next creature. He quickly realized that he was alone. He could see the remainder of his squad falling back to the hardened bunker, hundreds of beasts pouring after them. Debin didn’t hesitate.

He bolted toward the compound. All round him small creatures were gorging themselves on the bodies of fallen men. They hissed and lunged at him threateningly, seemingly too content with the abundance of dead flesh in front of them to chase living prey. Debin was thankful for that at least. The low stone fortification was piled with dead and Debin simply ran over the lip of the wall and into the compound. The tyranids were inside the perimeter and reeking havoc. Debin knew that the call would come and he didn’t plan to be the last one to heed it. He would die for the throne but not for any lost cause. The transports were already spinning up their engines and some of the 5th had already gathered at the hatches. No retreat had been ordered but Debin suspected that was because there was no one left alive to give it. It was at that moment that he heard the claxon blare.

His vox crackled to life “a general retreat has been ordered, a general retreat has been ordered. All personnel are instructed to make and orderly retreat to the hanger bay for immediate extractions. Please fall back by squads and provide…” the automated message was cut off mid transmission, and a split second later Debin felt an explosion rock the hanger followed by a tremendous blast wave. The force knocked him to the ground. The hatch to the transport was open and those that were on their feet were already piling in. Debin forced himself up and hobbled into the craft. He slumped into the grav couch cradling the las rife. The transport filled quickly with bloodied blank faced guardsmen.

He let the gravity of acceleration push him into the couch. His head lulled of its own accord, as it did he caught sight of the battle raging below them near the hanger. He listened as his fellow guardsmen gasped in awe. Near the hanger a massive creature easily the size of a titan was ripping the command center apart sending huge chunks of masonry into the air. Bat winged creatures swarmed around the impossibly large beast like flies. All around the hanger in the dying fire light Debin could make out large tower like structures rising from the surface of the planet. ‘Teeth’ he muttered . The transport punched through the clouds and into the inky void beyond.
Explosions could be seen blossoming like stars amid the imperial fleet. Massive alien vessels swarmed like angry hornets around the planet. “There is only war” someone said blankly. Debin felt his anxiety welling beyond the confines of his sanity and he began to laugh. The transport accelerated toward the fleet or oblivion or both.

zomg

thats awsome. I like it

great stuff

you should so be employed by gw to wright there books

Thanks but I am not that good.

Very nice chief. I'm gonna post some raw works up here and see what kind of a reaction I get. I like where you are with this one though.


Great stuff.

Blood

Debin relaxed as the force of the transports acceleration pressed him into the gravity couch. Explosions continued to blossom in the void. He watched with detachment as the imperium’s finest were passing into the Emperors embrace. Massive living ships loomed into view through the porthole. Debin closed his eyes several times expecting to feel the cold of space but the pilot controlling the transport must have been among the best in the guard. The unwieldy transport darted between hulking chitinous hulls and spun away from living missiles that writhed hungry after the ship. As they approached His Defiant Will the fighting grew more intense. Debin prayed to the emperor that their transponder was working, the thought of making it that far only to be killed by a defense servitor scared him. The transports hull hummed and rattled as the defense lasers passed within meters of their hull. The main hanger loomed into view through the portal. Even though Debin had seen it many times it never ceased to amaze him. The opening to the bay was massive and inside there was room enough for thousands of ships. Debin was sure that the age that gave birth to such things would never return. The transport braking thrusters roared with the effort of slowing the ship. It alighted on the pad and the hatch fell open. A lieutenant was standing outside the hatch Debin didn’t recognize him, but he wore the black and khaki of the Jozian 5th. “Attention you worthless dogs ! Get on the deck double time.” Debin felt the weariness drain from his limbs, replaced by a sense of duty that had been drilled into him with an iron bit.
He fell into line next to a bloodied man. “If wouldn’t be a waste of materials I would execute the lot of you for not dying on the battlefield. It is my duty however to conserve ammunition during a retreat. Who is the ranking officer among you?” It took Debin only a moment of sinking sickness to realize that he was the ranking officer.
“Sir, Lance Corporal Debin Fulcrum. I think… I am sir.” The man covered the distance between them in three quick strides . Debin could feel the heat from his face.
“You think?” Nerik felt a sharp blow to his forehead as a bionic finger thumped it.
“Sir, this is not my squad sir” The man loomed closer.
“Failure to remain with your squad during retreat…” the man thumbed his side arm.
“Sir they’re all dead I-“ the lieutenant slapped him hard in the mouth. White hot pain spread out across his face.
“They’re all dead? Then what is your excuse?” Debin knew better than to speak again. “I think that I will send you back to Jozia, you would make a better servitor than a soldier.”
“Or maybe you could just give him to me.” A gravelly voice came from somewhere behind Debin. He didn’t dare turn around. The lieutenant snapped to attention, which let him know the man was a significant rank above him. “Be a shame to waste such a man.” A puff of sweet smoke preceded the man. Debin nearly choked when he saw the man. A single ragged scar traversed his face from scalp to chin and twisted his mouth into a rictus smile. He was smoking a thick smoldering cigar.
His uniform was that of the Special Division. None were too sure exactly what they were. They were not quite storm troopers but not assassins either. They fit into that ancient and secret organization that remained from the time of strife when Jozia weathered the hazards of the universe alone. The question of how they fit into the hierarchy of the imperium had managed to create enough red tape to last the adepts on terra a thousand years.
He watched nervously as the man eyed him like a bird of prey. “Lieutenant, you have misjudged this man. I was on the surface covering the retreat and I witnessed this man holding off a pack of hormigaunts , and three ripper swarms with nothing but a flamer. Long after the last of his men had been ripped to pieces he fought on. When his flamer ran out he pulled out his combat knife and engaged in hand to hand with the beasts. He didn’t fall back until he was alone in the mud with nothing else to kill.” The man placed his large hand into the hole in Debin’s armor and wrenched something free. The man held up his large hand to show the men the twelve inch remnant of talon. He pressed the talon against Debin’s chest. “They make good knives guardsman” He smiled
“Sir, Thank you sir” Debin replied sharply taking the talon. The edge nicked his hand as he accepted it. “Lance Corporal, report to my shuttle in one quarter of an hour, bring that rifle, and that same faith that you displayed back there”. He left with no ceremony. Puffs of smoke swirled in his wake.

Great stuff man. Not too much I can comment on, other than I want to read more. Keep it comin, when you can. Is this a written piece, or off the cuff sort of thing?

Good chops,
Blood

very very cool!!!!

u should totally write a book, because thats amazing. how long did it take u to write