Darius and his small band of Fallen Angels had been scrounging up armor for the Ghosts of Caliban, a major, well-organized Fallen band. Before the fighting started, they had found two old Predators, one in good condition, and an old Whirlwind. They had called in the Ghosts to extract the battered tank and artillery, and kept the working Predator, in case it was needed. Looking back, it was probably the only lucky thing that had happened. Darius’ squad and scouts had been caught up in the massive battle, and attacked by more Tau and the Inquisition forces. The World Eaters nearby must have mistaken them for Chaos Marines, because they didn’t attack. It just made Darius detest them more.
The Predator, stationed to his rear, fired. Twin beams of burning light streaked towards the Inquisitor’s Chimera, but the beams burned through the ruins surrounding it. Not much power was left, and the transport’s weapons were simply thrown off. A thrumming sound caught Darius’ ear, and he turned to see four of the Tau’s camouflaged armored troops jetting on his scout’s position in a marsh. More alarming was the larger suit, bearing markings denotiong it as a commander. A missile rack shifted towards the Predator, and a melta weapon of some sort mounted on its arm powered up. A Tau troopship floated up nearby and opened fire. One of his marines was hit, and fell, plasma scorching his chest. Darius rushed to him, and started treating him. He silently thanked the Emperor and the Lion for his apothecary’s training. His scouts fared little better, with two of the snipers cut down by fire from the stealth suits. The Tau commander loosed his missiles, but they detonated harmlessly on its armor.

Quickly, Darius motioned his men forward. The wounded Marine was back on his feet, ready to avenge his injury. But a bigger threat was near, as the Inquisitorial Chimera rolled up and the Inquisitor himself stepped out, surrounded by odd figures. The Sergeant cursed Luthor for putting his brothers in this doomed position. He barked an order over to the scouts, and they sighted on the distant Grey Knights, occupying the ruins that the Chimera had earlier. Despite the range and the odd haze surrounding them, their aim was true. One sniper round pinged off a Knight’s chestplate, while the other sank into the weaker area at one’s neck, dropping him. Another was slain as a krak missile from the scouts punched through his chestplate and detonated. The Predator opened fire on the Stealth Suits. Accurately gauging the range, the heavy bolter fire blew apart one of the advanced suits.

“Open Fire!” shouted Darius, and bolter fire from his squad chattered towards the Inquisitor. The assorted henchman and floating skulls were quickly cut down. However, the Inquisitor’s armor shrugged off the bolts. Darius realized it was probably artificer-made. He motioned forward his plasma gunner. He fired to bolts of searing plasma, but the heat of the lava from the broken planet overloaded the cooling units. The plasma gun blasted an enormous amount of heat at the gunner, searing and melting his armor. Amazingly, the marine managed to stand his ground, preparing to receive the Inquisitor’s charge. But, as engine sounds rumbled, Darius realized that the Chimera was moving forward. The tank loomed forward, and opened up with a heavy flamer. Only one marine fell to the inferno, and Darius had him standing fast. But then, a heavy bolter and heavy stubber cut down several more Fallen Angels, and the Inquisitor unleashed a fiery holocaust, claiming another marine. Then, the Inquisitor charged. He struck one of the marines, cleaving through his bayonet and into his chest. The next blow struck the last marine aside from Darius, and the unlucky Fallen exploded with a psychic blast from the force weapon. Darius struck several times, but none connected. Glancing around, he saw that his scouts were being scythed down under Tau fire, and a team of Space Wolf scouts had just affixed 8 or so melta bombs to the Predator. Darius cursed Luthor again and prepared to sell his life dearly. The Inquisitor strode forward, blade crackling with psychic energy. Revving his chainsword, Darius charged.

A flash of light enveloped the charging marine, and with a snap and the smell of ozone he was gone. Darius appeared on the bridge of an old Imperial grand cruiser. He shook his head, and looked around. The place was empty. He stood, and strode over to the bridge. He was orbiting above the planet his men had fallen on. His face hardened with anger at their futile sacrifice.

A voice from behind caused the Sergeant to spin around, bolter forward. A roben figure stood before him. A scabbard hung at his belt, and two pistol holsters were at his sides. One looked better protected; it was probably for a plasma weapon. The marine, because it was obviously one, spoke again. All Darius saw was his mouth, for his face was otherwise cloaked in shadows.

“Sergeant Darius of the Ghosts of Caliban.” His voice was calm, calculated. “Take me to Razial. There is much I need to discuss with my old Brother…”

+++ Recording interrupted +++